Headed For Extinction: 20 Female Names We’ll Never See Again

Names certainly are a sign of the times. You’ll rarely meet a woman in her 50s named Heather or a woman in her 40s named Sasha or a young teenage girl named Ethel. But with the rise of the Blue Ivy’s and Madisons in the names registry comes the decline of names like Mildred and Ruth.

See our list of 20 female names that will soon (or at the very least should) become extinct.

Photo: Tumblr

Blanche

Remember this character from Golden Girls? Her name, like the show, is from a bygone era and we’re not mad at the blah moniker’s demise either.

Photo: Shutterstock

Myrtle

The only Myrtle most people today probably think of Myrtle Beach as the name being used for a girl is an idea that long been buried under sand.

Photo: Tumblr

Ethel

When’s the last time you met someone named Ethel under the age of 40? Don’t worry… we’ll wait.

Photo: WENN

Barbara

Despite the oldness of this name, Barbara’s young granddaughter (daughter of George W. Bush) is named after her. But outside of family sentiment, it’s highly unlikely there’ll be a bevy of baby girls named Barbara on the horizon.

Photo: Tumblr

Mildred

In 1945, Mildred Pierce was the title of a popular movie that centered on a female lead. Today, Mildred is a name most people wouldn’t wish on their worse enemy.

Photo: Shutterstock

Agatha

Of all female names, Agatha just sounds too much like agony, doesn’t it? Any parent who cursed their child with this name today should be hit with child abuse charges as the teasing in school would be unending. Oh, the agony!

Photo: WENN

Phyllis

Names that derived from masculine ones rarely work for long. Phyllis has the distinct dishonor of being a hybrid of two—Phil and Willis. So this one should be put to rest twice.

Photo: WENN

Beatrice

Despite Beatrice being an ancient name, Fergie (the Duchess of York) thought it was fitting for her princess. We’re guessing that decision has been a royal pain for the young princess.

Photo: Tumblr

Marge

Only a cartoon reps this name nowadays. Despite Mrs. Simpson’s iconic status in pop culture, her name is synonymous with an annoying voice, drab fashion and blue hair. That’s three strikes.

Photo: Joseph Marzullo/Wenn.com

Ruth

Dr. Ruth will always be associated with this name of yore. So who would want to constantly have the above image come to mind whenever their precious daughter’s name came up?

Photo: WENN

Gretchen

We’re sure that this real housewife of Orange County was the only girl in school with this name—and with good reason.

Photo: Shutterstock

Gertrude

You never, ever hear this name anymore, although it is a popular name for goldfish. Maybe that’s why they allegedly have only a three-second memory span. See, even goldfish want to forget this decrepit name.

Photo: WENN

Martha

Martha is a pretty safe and conservative name and we must admit Martha Stewart is the only one we actually know with this name. While she’s turned it into a recognizable brand, we’re sure the name caused her quite some grief in her youth.

Photo: Shutterstock

Opal

It sounds more like an eye infection than a person’s name.

Photo: WENN

Rose

Although it’s a lovely name, Rose has been surpassed in popularity by other flower-inspired names like Violet and Lily.

Photo: WENN

Eleanor

Even La Roux lead singer Eleanor Jackson chooses instead to go by Elly than the punishment her parents bestowed upon her.

Photo: WENN

Marlene

Actress Elizabeth Olsen played the lead role in psychological thriller “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” Martha was mentioned earlier as a female name that needs to go but we think Marlene deserves to be added to the list too.

Photo: WENN

Gladys

Motown mainstay Gladys Knight just might be the only leading lady with this name and we’re “glad” that the buck will hopefully stop there.

Photo: Getty

Josephine

Performer Josephine Baker may be legendary but her first name doesn’t seem to be.

Photo: Tumblr

Ilene

Vocalist Ilene Woods provided the voice for Cinderella in 1948 making her a household name. Since then the name Ilene has been all but forgotten.

The woman from The Great Gatsby you featured for the name Myrtle is actually Daisy Buchanan, aka the wife of the man that Myrtle was sleeping with/the woman that ran her over…

mrspeel2

You’re right! And the name “Blanch” is spelled incorrectly (To “Blanch” is to parboil something) It should be “Blanche”.

Amy Peterson

Good catch. I thought so, too about Myrtle being Daisy. My great grandmother’s name was Myrtle, and I had a great aunt named Marcella. They were both fierce members of the family and I wish I’d had the guts to use one or both of them for my daughter’s name.

Ebenezer is a good name to bring back from extinction… Oh, and Gregory… There aren’t too many Gregory’s in the world today, no?

Amy

I know five, all under the age of 30.

sarah

You guys obv haven’t been to a daycare in Brooklyn lately

iHeartMarijuana

lmao!

m_curious_2

I agree! Poor kids…. our future! scary

funkg

Agreed.The so called ‘hipsters’ will claim some of these names such as Gretchen

LizPal

I know a Gretchen, a Martha, AND a Ruth. This article is all just speculation!

Word

Agree with all of the above. And I know three little babies named Rosie.

Kitwench

Yeah, sci-fi geeks are going to be using the name Rose no matter how ‘old fashioned’ the article thinks the name is,lol!

Janet Sanchez

Doctor Who!!!

Tim Russell

…my daughters middle name.

barbaraebj

That’s a perennial favorite! There are many in every new generation, sort of like David, Saul, Benjamin, Rebecca, Sarah, ….. John, Matthew, ….. hehehe.

barbaraebj

DIANA! Don’t forget Diana. That was the name of a goddess!

Tired of Sleaze

This article is just trash.

m_curiuos_2

the writer was most likely educated by the dummies that got ‘placed’ into their instructor positions all in the name of Affirmative Action! Gotta love it! scary! Marissa Ellis… next time try to write a worthwhile story!

Kathy

Wow, while I agree the article is poorly researched, your comment about affirmative action is really ignorant and racist. Also totally unnecessary.

But it is probably true, & pointing out a statistical probability should not be considered racist simply because it is unflattering.

Birch Barlow

Did you get those statistics off the of the Stormfront website?

Shannon Montgomery

Saying “it’s probably true” doesn’t make it so. Stats or STFU.

Flounder

Go tend to your mangy cats you crazy old coot.

momsense1

Everyone is entitled to an opinion –even if you don’t like it personally. It’s called free speech–you know; First Amendment and all that irrelevant jazz?

golfnutz1935

momsense1….I’m confused. first you say that “everyone is entitled to an opinion,” and then you refer to the guarantee of free speech, the First Amendment, as “irrelevant jazz?” Are you intellectually challenged or just incredibly immature?

Miss Y

It was intended as sarcasm – you really couldn’t tell?

Gregory Marshall Smith

By your reasoning, it’s a statistical probability that the “good ol’ boy” system put these writers and their instructors in place since many of the names are popular among Latinas and Jews.

momsense1

Jews have a tradition of naming a child with a name of someone who has passed or at least the first initial of that name.

Bama

It’s not true and it’s not a statistical probability, therefore it is ignorant rather than unflattering.

April Ciolek

So was the hashtag under the article “old white lady” names.

Lee Rowan

and we know two wrongs ALWAYS make a right.

Flounder

Your comment was really stupid and makes no sense.I guess this is what happens when every moron and peasant has a pc now that computers and net have been dirt cheap for 15 years. In the past we’d have to go to a bowling alley or the ‘hood to see people this dumb but now we don’t have to leave the comfort of our homes to observe dingbats and retarded feminists.

Cynthia Anne Womack

I would think we’d celebrate the developmentally disabled using the internet to read articles and make replies-whether they were feminists or ‘Totaled Woman’ types. ; )

Briggs

I would like to see you go on the forums of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, or the Economist, Mr. Flounder. The readers there would pull you apart to shreds (civilly, of course, without resorting to petty name calling and archaic slurs–peasants? Haven’t seen that term since the last 19th century Russian novel I read). If you want intellectual debate, read something of intellectual substance.

I’ve never read anything on Style Blazer before, but this forum just amuses me to no end. I had expected to see toxic disinhibition inspired by what I would imagine would be the least controversial fluff piece. (If you’re not familiar with the term, “toxic disinhibition” was defined by John Suler in _Cyberpsychology_ in 2004).

Ah, we have an intellectual wanna be here. Ok smart dude (pretentious), I’ve been to the NYT, Economist and WSJ forums (online of course) and they are no more civil than you are a true intellectual who reads Russian novels. Phony intellectualism on here will not garner you any more credibility than the rest of the commentors but nice try, attempting to woo us in with your deep intellectual stimulation.

The truth is racist now, eh? You obviously don’t know a lick about affirmative action and it’s effects.

golfnutz1935

I wholeheartedly agree that m_curious_2 made obviously very biased, racist remarks. This is what trolls on the net do. They join an otherwise polite discussion of a topic and introduce ugliness and discord into it in an attempt to manipulate participants’ emotions, thus hoping to inflate their failing egos. Best to ignore them rather than react in kind.

ExJAG

Oh, dear Lord. The racist card.

Ed

Everyone being entitled to their opinion also includes everyone’s right to call certain opinions wrong or stupid.

De101801

your comment is just as stupid as the article..racist

Oohrah

What does affirmative active have to do with anything?

Gregory Marshall Smith

How in the hell can you connect this to Affirmative Action?

Butters

They say when you don’t have a story, come up with a LIST! LOL

Deb Brouhard

Do you mean all those white men who think got jobs because they’re white?

My Son Valets

Quit reading Styleblazer.

Brenda Eicher-Beard

I agree … I also know a ten year old named Josephine (Josie) … still popular among girls and mothers who read Little Women … also Ruth, Rose, and others

Jeff

I know a Gretchen and an Edna, both are in their early to mid 30s.

norah

How old are they, though? Most of the people I know with those names are over 40.

dorcus is a name I doubt will have a comeback, get Rose out of the list and use Dorcus

Tired of Sleaze

I’m thinkin’ Lamarageengumbodia

melke

Right. And Elsie.

don

I hear that Moomoo isout of fashion also.

April Ciolek

and Edna (sorry Mom 🙁 ) lol

BlueVibe

It’s Dorcas, with an “a”, and since it’s Biblical, it will probably never go away entirely.

Colledge

What about “Ida”? Or “Bernice”? “Dolores”? Or even “Muriel”?

Nan

Dolores is more likely seen in the Hispanic world as it means “sorrows” and is a name associated with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

elyse

My grandma’s name is Geraldine… now that’s an old one.

Lee

How about Josephine?

D.B. Cooper

Josephine should be taken off the list because it is extremely popular in French speaking regions because that was Napoleon’s wife. Also “Josie” is a well liked nickname.

Jane

How about a list of names from the present that should become extinct ASAP? Any fruit used as a first name (Apple, Peaches), Keshia (please—-what does this name mean?),
Names made from rock or stones (Marble, Ebony), possibly poisonous plant names (Sumac, Ivy), colors (Fuschia, Blue, Ivory), certain other gem names besides Opal (Ruby,
Diamond, Emerald), combination syllable names that make children feel strange because
they can never find them on products for kids with names imprinted (Imprenette, Rashinda,
Padoternice and the like).

And even if it has no meaning, what the heck difference does it make? Names don’t have to “mean” anything.

Guest

Yes, they do. Your kid is going to ask what their name means. All the kids in their classes are going to know what their own names mean, and if your kid has a made up name, they are not going to feel special, they are going to feel isolated.

Nameless

I don’t think parents should let capitalism, Xenophobia or ignorance determine their children’s names. One of my sons will never see his name on a mug because it’s not common in America, but it’s my father’s name and a good name at that. Obviously there’s some bad names out there, but Ivy and Ruby? Sounds like you’re guilty of the same thing the author is, and just arbitrarily picking out names you don’t like. The first Ruby who comes to my mind is Ruby Dee. She’s a fine person, and it’s a fine name.

Keshia means “favorite.” Question answered. As for the rest of the names you don’t like, why eliminate them just because you don’t like them? Why is Opal OK as a gem name but not Ruby? And who says children feel “strange” for having unusual names just because they can’t be found on preprinted products? That has to be the silliest reason against them of all–especially these days, when custom printing of anything you want on any object is so cheap, quick and easy.

Nan

Ebony is actually wood. Myrtle, one of the names on the list is a plant.

Ethel, Myrtle, Blanche and Agatha are truly awful…but Beatrice, Rose, Gretchen and Martha are, IMO, timeless and lovely …as well as popular! Also, Ruth is a Biblical name …I dare say that will never go out of style, even if not everyone likes it.

Nikki

My 7 year old daughter’s name is Ruth, we call her Ruthie and her best friend is named Gretchen. All I can say is I think this is very poorly researched.

Cathy Roberts

No kidding. Banal, shallow AND poorly researched. Blah.

m_curious_2

our future journalism professor! Scary stuff

Relax

You are reading a website called “StyleBlazer”, with other engrossing articles like “Can you recognize these stars in their school photos” and “7 white girls with the best buns”.

You were expecting something more?

De101801

Yes… matter how trite the article or trivial the information, if you want to make a living as a journalist, you should be responsible in your writing and do your research.

Daniel Q

Really? On what planet are you referring to? Do you think ANYONE who writes for People and several other similar trash periodicals, all of which sell millions of copies to idiot, vacant readers, give a crap about research? And they’ll be around long after anyone involved with LIFE magazine or National Geographic have all died out! We live in a world of morons.

I can see some people still using Ruth and Beatrice. I know a few teenagers named Lilly, but I’m not sure how popular Rose it. Many of these names won’t completely die, but I’m not sure how much mainstream popularity there is.

AndrewAndrewAndrew

Get ready for a few more Roses and MANY more LIly’s. I know 5 children named Lily in the past few years, and 3 dogs.

katherine1966

I agree lots of dogs have the name of Lily.

redbirds

my dog’s name is jilly, my best friend’s daughter is named lilly. but that doesn’t count as i am german and live in germany. but i think it’s fun to read all those posts except the ones from daniel q 🙂 he’s just dumb.

I just did Valentines for my 2 yr old Ruth last night. One was Lillyanna.

budgiegirl2

in the southern US, I see Rose used as a middle name, whereby people call their kids by two names. “Emma Rose”, and “Kathryn Rose”

Tiffany Hessal

I like the name “Rose” when you put like how you did it, as a middle name. 🙂

scobbs

My daughter’s name is Amelia Rose. She’s one and I frequently use her full name

musings2

Yes, all my Southern aunts were known by first and middle names, such as Sue Ann.

Nan

That was common years ago, probably 40s as shown by “Peggy Sue” the song from the 50’s.

Daniel Q

Oh yeah. In the South. We should be concerned about that… after a weekend of cross-burnings, I’m always concerned about what they’re naming their kids.

budgiegirl2

Why so hateful? Just so you know, I was born and raised in PA. Went to an Ivy League college in NH and stayed there for 9 years before moving to MA for 5 years. We moved to TN because Boston was getting overcrowded and overpriced, and we took faculty jobs at a top 20 university, and got a nice house for a fraction of the cost it would to live in Boston. So before you make blanket statements about everybody that lives down here, maybe you should consider that the demographics are rapidly changing. Are there redneck racists in the south? Yes. Are there completely arrogant overachieving narcissistic jerks living in the North? Well look in the mirror, buddy. I don’t go to church, I am not a racist, and I am no southern apologist. But I listen to people like you and I am so glad I got away from the rat race of the North East metropolitan areas.

Heather S

Read his other comments, he is clearly trolling, pay him no mind.

Flounder

There are rednecks and crackas in the north. You have to remember that cities like NY and Boston are rather provincial and the average inhabitant is a moron who has never been anywhere outside of Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. If they are non Euro and attended a NYC school their average IQ is 85!

budgiegirl2

Ha ha that just made me laugh. yes there are nice people everywhere and there are idiots everywhere.

redbirds

you really are NOT a smart guy. i hope you get help soon.

My Son Valets

This is also true of southern males i.e. Billy Bob, Joe Ray, etc.

budgiegirl2

i have lived in the south for so long that I don’t even know if you are being serious or joking, but my north-east roots think this post is funny as heck, either way.

Raven

Or maybe your daughter and her friend actually do have old names and you don’t want to admit it..

Mitch

HIss, Raven.

Julietta

What is wrong with “old” names? Names like Catherine, Anne, Elizabeth, Michael, John.. have all been around for hundreds of years..Just because someone says the older generation has them.. people should abandon them? Is your kid named Apple? I’ve actually never heard someone being judgmental about a name.. too much time on people’s hands I think.

Nan

I thought it was hilarious that the article referred to the “oldness” of a name…might have been Barbara.

CLW

“Old” names are CLASSIC, and will stand the test of time!

budgiegirl2

Ruthie and Gretchen are both great names, and my daughter who is 10 would think nothing unusual of those names. On the other hand, she says there are no Jennifers, Kathy’s, Kristens, or Mary’s, or Johns in her grade. And she laughed at the name Bob. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those names – and the author of this article should not have been so glib about making fun of these names. Just trends – names come in and out of fashion, nothing wrong with the names, themselves.

Krista

That’s because most of the kids in her class have last names as first names.

anonomyssy

MY best friend in grammar school was Gretchen and my name is Eileen…(which no one can ever spell or get…I get called Elaine, Irene, anything but)….and I’m not that old…but I’ll admit it…it’s an old lady name.

budgiegirl2

my daughter’s best friend is Eileen. Spelled the same way.

Nan

Eileen is classic Irish.

Krista

Shania Twain’s real legal first name is Eilleen (with 2 “L” s). I’ve never seen it spelled with 2 “L”s before, just 1.

Ruth

I agree! I’m eighteen and named Ruth. And the names Beatrice and Eleanor are actually coming back.

Daniel Q

LMAO!! Sure they are… LOL!!

Amy Peterson

There are lots of Eleanors and Elinors among little girls right now.

musings2

I know a Ruth, a Eugenie, an Ethel, and a Marjorie. All are under forty, and one is still in middle school. They are on both coasts.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Half the females in our family are in some way named Rose!

Bluestocking

Are the other half are Hyacinth, Violet and Daisy? – you must be real fans of PBS comedy.

Solus

Lots of forms of Rose in my family, too, (including me) in honor of my paternal grandmother, Maria Rose. And I know quite a few women of all ages who are called Rosie.

Daniel Q

Personal anecdotal rubbish. Get over it!

Solus

What the names are in my family is, of course, personal information and can be called anecdotal, but knowing of a lot of other women with names that are some form of “Rose” is no more rubbish than any impersonal poll taken by some researcher. I’ve spent decades as a teacher with hundreds of students going through my classes, and I am aware of the frequency of some names as well as the odd ways some people are spelling common names.

I was simply making a brief comment based on what I knew whereas you were simply being rude.

budgiegirl2

you have an awfully high opinion of yourself. no self awareness at all, apparently!

Hazel is actually on the upswing. And it’s an AWESOME name. My daughter has it and I know of other young ladies who have it.

Just me

Yeah well, they said the same thing about Emma and Gwenyth a hundred years ago. Many of these names will be considered charming in 2113.

Missy

Opal, Rose, & Myrtle can easily be little girls names today.

Missy

My grandma’s name is Velma, I doubt that make would make a comeback…my great grandma’s name is “Crickett ” , I see that as being a cool comeback, a cool nickname. My MIL’S name is Joyce….Naw , that name will prolly stay retired. Or how bout my name, I havent met an elderly “Michelle” yet, that would be cool.

Ruth is biblical.You’re always going to see some.
I can see names like Brunhilda, Hildegard or Ermgarde..and even Ethel…but some of the names will probably be there forever. Names go in and out. Like now kids are named for places..that will change too.
This article should have been “names you don’t like.”

Nan

More kids are named for places but my mom’s aunt was born in the early 20th century and was named for a place. It’s also common for children to be given their mother’s maiden name as a first name. Those things won’t change, nor will using first names from previous generations.

Guest

People are more likely today to name their kids old fashioned names just to set their child apart from the crowd. Let’s face it. In the 1990s women picked names of TV and movie actors and characters which led to a lot of kids feeling less than special. I’ve noticed many ancient names among my kids’ friends.

Amy Peterson

I am actually a tiny bit surprised that among Ethel Kennedy’s expanse of grandchildren there is not even one young Ethel. I don’t believe they even used it for a middle name.

Marky Beth

Seriously? Rose is not uncommon at all these days, particularly as a middle name. I happen to know a teenager named Marjorie, and Beatrice is not unheard of either. What was this list, anyway…a list of the author’s least favorite names for her own children? Boo! Someone needs to check these articles before putting them on public sites….. just sayin’…

Marguerite

My name is Marguerite(MAR-GER-EAT), to write it simply . You never hear now, but I love it. I think it should be way more popular. French. Means pearl &/ or Daisy.

Forty years? We already have post menopausal females with these names.

momsense1

Anyone realize that we now name our kids for the characters in soap operas ? Would you really want your kids doing some of the things they do?

golfnutz1935

Not only soap operas, but also video games and a certain genre of movies, such as Lord of the Rings. A certain person in my extended family recently named her new daughter Arwen Athelial. I’m not sure of the spelling here. I was told that what I said above was the origin of the names.

norah

I think people have named their kids after movie characters and movie stars ever since movies began. Then when TV started they named them after TV characters. Before movies they named them after people in books. I’m not saying everyone did this–I’m just saying it’s nothing new.

Jeff

Name popularity goes up and down in cycles. People will get tired of the trendy names and go back to more traditional names because everything old is new again

Nigel

Obviously, not Doctor Who fans. The good Doctor had a 19 year old 21st century gal as a companion just a few years ago AND a companion in her 20s named Martha!

Oh for god’s sake! What the hell is it with you morons and the liberals? Is anyone who says anything you don’t like automatically a liberal and therefore a fool? Give it up. We don’t agree – that doesn’t make anyone superior to anyone else.

BlueVibe

Sorry, he can’t tell you that. At least, not if he’s honest.

CLW

Of course that was racist!

Ethel Mertz

Chlamydia-Champagne, K-Martina, Velveeta…

Truly S.

You know those are urban legends, right?

Nan

But Lexus Diamond isn’t because a woman told me her daughter’s name and that she wanted to name her for something expensive…but regretted using those names.

Guest11

This looks like it was written by a highshool intern.

marilynTheSub

Elementary school assignment. Hey kids, I’m your sub today. Let’s try something fun and maybe we will see it online.

Guest

Aren’t most articles written by no talent hacks these days? Even the most respected news agencies don’t bother with editing. Journalism is dead.

Cody

Your captions are lame. Oh, and I know a Beatrice who happens to be Hispanic; so much for your “names of old white ladies” tag… Sounds like Marissa couldn’t pitch a decent story idea, so she decided to download pictures — without courtesying the owner(s) — and come up with some half-baked “extinct names” theory…

DW

This is just terrible, who writes this crap and then who gives it the green light? WTF…

Nicholas

Female names always go in and out of fashion. How many Emmas do you know know in their fortirs. Its a popular name now and it was popular in the late 1800s. There were a lot of Amys and Jennifers in the 80s. Those names will come back again. So will Ethel and Mildred. And when exactly did people stop using Barbara? There are tons of Barbaras, Barbs and Barbies out there. Who wrote this garbage?

karen

My five old is the only Ashton in his class, maybe the whole school. I picked t on purpose cause I knew it was not the most popular name when he was born. Names always come back at some point for both sexes.

katherine1966

I like the name Ashton. It is a common girls name at my school. Ashton followed by Ashlyn and Ashley. But there is Ashton Kurtcher.

Krista

Ashton Kutcher’s first name is Christopher.

sickofstupidnews

Did someone get paid to write this stupidity?

Loriey

All the new made up names: DaShawn, LaShawn, ReShawn. TaShawn…….etc…some names can’t even be pronounced. Sadly names like that might also racially profile a kid…….i.e. wow….he’s GOT to be black etc.

Truly S.

Why isn’t it better to have an original, creative name than one lots of other kids have? And yeah, some people might jump to conclusions about them, but do they want to deal with those racists? I had a friend who named her daughter Natashia…she’s white.

Loriey

My husband’s great grandmother was also named Natasha, she’s from Russia.

Guest

Natashia is a very old name. It is actually Latin, so it’s not a surprise a white person would use that name. I don’t like “creative” names that are meant to sound just like all the other names people are using, but with different spelling, whether it’s Krystyn/Crystin/Christin or LaTasha/LaShanta/LaShante, it just looks like the mom was under a bit too much sedation when picking the spelling. That’s just not creative, it’s bad copying. My family does this very often and it gets old having to ask again how to spell a kid’s name. “It has a silent W and L!” just sounds silly after the first ten times the mom says it.

Take along look in your mirror–those that apply that named to others usually are full of the same. and BTW–learn to read.

mike

There is no religious bigotry in the noted post. She mentioned that Martha is not going anywhere, either, thanks to the Christian New Testament. This is an observation; Christianity isn’t likely to simply up and disappear anytime soon, and it’s a safe bet that it will continue to be a source of names for a long time to come.

If you would like to explain why you feel this statement is bigoted, be my guess- but what I’m seeing here is a bigot named momsense1 attacking someone for having the audacity to mention a religion.

momsense1

Why are you responding to a post from 2 weeks ago? None of the points matters now.

bikebird

If two weeks is all it takes for an opinion to no longer matter, it must not have meant much to begin with. Methinks thou dost protest too much. (Not a bible quote, btw.)

barbaraebj

LOL,well then mine at 4 months later must really annoy you. LOL! Once you write it, it becomes immortal, something to be joked about for the rest of time immortal.

Lee Rowan

This is the Internet. Stuff stays around forever and sometimes people don’t see it right away.

Lee Rowan

It’s “be my GUEST.” If you can’t communicate in your own language, you’re hardly one to be attacking others. I thought Shannon was HASTENING to add her bible-banging 2 cents because someone else mentioned Judaism. What she seems to forget is that Martha is an Anglicization of the original Judaic name. And no, I’m not Jewish and while I think Jesus was a great teacher, I also think most of the people who call themselves “christians” are egotistical hypocrites who only feel good when dumping their dogma on others.

Barbara A Johnson Adkins

Quit while you can, “momsense1”. Roger is getting all the “likes”. You aren’t going to catch up.

barbaraebj

… and YOU applied that name to someone else, FIRST, so by your own words, Roger was correct — you confirmed such in your own reply to him.

SMH. People are strange! There’s a song that says that, right? What is that song again?

gtwilight

Martha and Ruth are Bible based names, just as Rose is a flower based name, Phyllis is a Hellenistic name and Gertrude is a Germanic name. As long as there are people who read the Bible (or Torah in Ruth’s case), there will be Ruths and Marthas. As long as there are people who love flowers, there will be Roses. As long as there are people who love Greek culture there will be Phyllises, Alethias, Antigones and Phaedras. As long as there are people with Germanic roots, there will be Gertrudes and Adalheids – who will hopefully be promptly nick-named Trudy and Heidi, respectively. I think that was what was being said by many here.

You’re right. They’re not going away. They’re going to stay right here in the American culture, especially Mary, Sarah, Michael, Peter, Paul, Adam, John, Jim, and other names that have been popular for hundreds/thousands of years. The Brittanys, Jasons, Keishas, Sashas, Megans, Machaelas, and the like are already on their way out. Just MHO.

Svengali77

You have omitted: Chardonnay, Lance, Melville, Tracey and some of these odd names that American’s seeking the Oval office seem to have. About the only thing right about Bush was his Christian name. Of course a forename says so much about the persons likely status.

elvira

Diana’s been popular off and on for centuries, Freya is currently fashionable and a well-known sportswoman is called Venus, so I don’t think Biblical names are going to vanish in the near future.

Svengali77

Elvira is rather attractive too. There was a lovely but sad film; Elvira Madigan around about thirty five years ago.

elvira

I consider it an impossibly glamorous name, which is why I like to use it online.

LaSargenta

Maybe not in the US…but, my kid’s got a greek god’s name in the mix. (Not Zeus, he wasn’t really very interesting.)

Svengali77

Sisyphus?

ExJAG

So Sherry jumps out of the cake with the audience expecting a happy-faced lark of a gal with fun on her mind, but what they get is a dour taunter who thinks scorn and contempt sell.

Back in the cake, hon.

Squidly Diddily

Hilarious! 🙂

Joe Vapes

Always have to be one of these in the crowd? Give it a rest already!

Paul

I completely disagree with you. There are so many wonderful names in the Bible.

i appreciate your comment, i just had a baby 5 weeks ago and named him Joseph

mikifenn

In twenty years no one will be named Sherry.

barbaraebj

Not as long as it’s “soundalike” is the word for “dear” in French. Different spelling, but different cultures have to add their mark on stuff somehow. Sherry isn’t going anywhere.

lc1715

I’m an atheist, but I would still not be be hesitant to use a Biblical name. Of course, nor would I be hesitant to use a name from any other well-written, inspiring work of fiction.

Lee Rowan

You’re talking about the US, Sherry. There’s a whole WORLD out there and kids are given names you never even heard of.

Ayame

My mom gave me that name when I was born so you are technically right

Erik

Curious as Ruth’s loyalty was to her mother-in-law. My wife’s name is Ruth. I personally consider that as Biblical names are Jewish names, I chose to name my daughter Thyra, a name that is now almost out of style in Denmark, after “Denmarks jewell”, the wife of Gorm the Old in Viking times.

workingmansdem

Right. And some cupcake named “Marrissa” should be passing judgement. Sounds like a name for a gerbil.

Never say never! Some of these might be very popular in the decades or centuries to come – after all, versions of them can be found in literature thousands of years old. Are we arrogant enough to think this age is the only one that counts?

Now

Madeleine

Chrigid

I know two Madeleines in their late 30s.

Lisa

You know what sounds like agony? The collective groans most of us uttered upon reading your sophomoric, ageist, sexist, waste of space piece you call an “article.”

Why on Earth would this article be titled “These Names Are Headed For Extinction: 15 Female Names We’ll NEVER See Again” when you include the caption: “I’m foreseeing that Opal will one day rise again…” Make up your damn mind, Opal going to be extinct or rise again? Can’t have both

Jlass

The ads are completely ruining your page. I mean completely. They pop up in the middle of reading the story, they blurt out of the corner and thy lock up the page. Fix your page!

LexiconD1

Jlass, How about downloading an ad blocker, never see them again? Scroll through the internet, ad free…like the rest of us. It’s not like it’s difficult.

Ozelle (or Mozelle), Pauline, Pearl, Cornelia, Marjorie, Roberta, — Most of those names are from relatives of mine, most are deceased now.

SG

Excuse me??? You tagged this article with “names of old white ladies”? Seriously??? What would happen if someone tagged an article with “names of old black ladies”?
Styleblazer, your bias is inexcusable. I’ve seen it in many articles on this site, but never as blatantly as this. You want to have your cake and eat it too. Sorry, you’ve lost this reader for good.

SG

Excuse me??? You tagged this article with “names of old white ladies”? Seriously??? What would happen if someone tagged an article with “name of old black ladies”?

Styleblazer, your bias is inexcusable. I have seen it in many articles on your site previously, but never as blatant as this. You want to have your cake and eat it too. Sorry, you’ve lost this reader for good.

(AND PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS COMMENT AGAIN – YOU DELETED IT WITHIN SECONDS THE FIRST TIME!)

Mermaid

Quite possibly the stupidest thing I’ve seen written in years (and given the amount of cr@p available, that’s an accomplishment.) As others have said, the name is “Blanche”, not blanch like the verb to whiten, lighten, or turn pale. Moron. And Barbara, Ruth, and Gretchen??? Still very much in use; not the slightest bit “dated” or out of fashion. Is this just your own demented opinion, or are statistics involved? I’m sure popularity has waned on some of these, but seriously?? This article makes the author sound dumb as a pop-tart. Embarrassing.

seriously? You are going to put 1 name per page so you get more add fees in ?? Nevermind!!!

Patty (Patricia)

What an immature, ignorant snob you are. I guess you’re one of the “progressives” who believe anyone over 30 is elderly! If I had my way the name “Marissa” would be long gone. Try to think about people’s feelings (all people) before you write such a flippant article.

Chrigid

It’s been at least 40 years since any progressive believed anyone over 30 is elderly. Actually, we were down on the over-30s because they couldn’t be trusted.

Why are you throwing the word ‘progressive’ around like it were a curse word. That’s no better than the original writer. Our country is divided enough. Stick to the topic at hand, please.

Lulu

Blanche needs an e on the end, and your pic from The Great Gatsby is of Daisy, not Myrtle.

Cindy

Several of these are family names and will resurface. Why can’t people choose names and not have others think they are wrong to use, or strange? So what if Keshia isn’t a name you would choose?

halothane

What about Hortense?

Amy

These people are on crack. Just becasue Rose is not the most popular “flower” name hardly means it’s extinct. In fact, it has enjoyed a resurgence in the last 15 years thanks to Titanic and the tv show Doctor Who (footnote: the name Amelia was the most popular girls name last year in the UK, attributed to the popularity of the Doctor Who character played by karen Gillan). Martha, Gretchen, Barbara, Ruth, still prety much contenders in the baby name game. I also remember when Emma and Abigail were considered “old, antiquated” names 30 years ago.

Amy

I also forgot – Agata, the Slavic derivative of Agatha – is also gaining ground for those who want something European-sounding but generic enough that it’s not directly associated with one particular nationailty.

Nan

It’s not a “derivative” it’s because they don’t use “th” the way the west does. It’s an alternate spelling.

Chrigid

So self-absorbed you don’t have a clue about human behavior or about how the world works.

Next week you’ll be using these in an article about 15 names due for a comeback.

maguerite

Blanche, not Blanch darlings!

Justsaying

“As with most things, “old-fashioned” has now become the NEW fashion! Older names are back in style. Whoever wrote this article doesn’t know anyone with children below the age of 12.

sarahinez

I’m old enough to remember when Sarah, Emma and Noah seemed destined for oblivion.

Many of those names are very popular in Europe and Anglo-phile Asia. You lead the story with Sasha? Ever been to Russia? Guess not.

Thos. Hagen

Barbara? Get real. That’s a fine name and will be around for generations.

Sarah J

Names that sound old to us now, will sound fresh and new to our kids. My mother positively hates the name Emma and thinks is the most god-awful old lady name. Now it’s popular, trendy and cute. My theory is that old lady names skip a generation or two.

I don’t like the name Emma, but there’s worse. I think some older 20th century names are quite nice actually. Most of the ones Marissa listed aren’t nice, but there will always be people who like them.

Mick

This article should have included 70s and 80s standards like Amber and Heather and Brittany. The old names are making a comeback. About half of these names are already reappearing. 10 years ago, Emma, Sophie, and Ava were old lady names. In the last two years, my friends have named kids Henry, George, Rose, and Margaret.

Kathleen

Agreed. My granddaughter’s name is Sophia Rose. Old-fashioned and lovely, in my opinion.

CLW

Sophia Rose is a VERY LOVELY name.

Agatha

Not really agony considering my name is Agatha and I’ve always been proud to have a name that isn’t a Jennifer or Sara or Lisa or something common. As a young woman with an old fashion name, I’ve always gotten a positive response from people when I’ve given my name about how unique it is.

dtbklyn

I still hear plenty of those names…but how did you miss a name you hardly ever hear anymore: Penelope.

Penelope was ranked #169 on Social Security’s list of baby girls born in the US in 2011. It’s probably going to be higher when the 2012 list comes out next month.

smartgeema

Could the author of this piece have been any more insulting – or rude – or ignorant?

This one probably was also a snob and a bully while she was in junior high and high school.

Are there any respectful, responsible, adults left anywhere in the American press? I think not.

shugli

Hmmm… My opinion is the name Marissa is old and out-dated. So sick of opinion pieces. How about actually doing your research and writing about facts instead of opinion. You know what they say about opinions, they just like a$$holes, everyone has one.

Blance/Grethen/Ruth, etc

Who wrote this? A fifth-grader? Such sophisticated reasoning.

chargin

i wanna know what gives the writer, Marissa Ellis, the right to make fun of little elderly ladies’ names? You have to be a stinkin liberal younster know it all still wet behind the ears don’t know yourass from a hole in the ground. YOU are headed for extinction. By the time you are elderly IF you live that long, the younger crowd of that day LIKE YOU today will be euthanized YOU in your old age.

Show a little wisdom and how about some RESPECT for our elderly. Ditz.

What in the world leads you to throw the word ‘liberal’ into your little rant? I agree in general with what you had to say (although I’m not fond of the tone) but if you want to make your point on something like this, quit name calling. As far as you know, she’s a card carrying member of the Tea Party.

Jalek

Nothing old ever comes back into fashion, just ask any Madeline you run into.

These articles are the reason everyone should run ad-blocker software anyway. Make a list, spread it over many pages, and the author gets a few bucks for the site to recoup through ad views. It’s just crap begetting crap.

Mari

What a “waspy” article……a lot of the names you mention….Rose, Martha, Agatha especially in particular are VERY common among Latino, Italian, Greek Americans because they are derivations of common names from the ‘old country.’ Some of the comments show such a lack of understanding (and spelling).

This is the dumbest, most soul-depleting batch of gibberish I’ve ever seen. It’s a 100% opinion piece, and sadly, the opinions are as tired as the cliches attached to some of the names. It is astounding and sad that this is what we can expect from a “professional” who is actually being paid to come up with something like this. The dumbest thing ever.

imnottellingu

ok. Oldest granddaughter at age 5 is Madeline Ruth…Ruthie for short And youngest at age 13 days is Emma Rose so at least two names will be around for a bit. Where did you come up with these names?

I have no idea how you came up this endangered species list, Marissa — but I guarantee you that Martha, Ruth, Barbara and Rose will flourish forever. I agree that (for the time being) Ethel and Myrtle and maybe a few others sound old-fashioned — but it’s the nature of fashions to change.

Maude

Martha and Ruth are both Biblical names — they will be around forever! And my granddaughter’s best friend is named Rose (8 years old).

Nan

Barbara is an early saint.

Kaehurowing

You must not be in a German part of the country–Gretchen (a form of Margaret) is still very common. Rose also isn’t going away, that’s a good Irish Catholic girl’s name. And Blanche is spelled with an “e.”

My grandmothers name was Gertrude. Her sisters were named Mabel And Eunice. Thats three names I have never met anyone with. Do hear Rose quite a bit often paired with another name like Mary Rose. Interesting piece. Men’s names next?

Let’s all name our daughters Brittany and Montana. By God you know we can’t ever have any history in our children’s names. It’s gotta be the latest pop star, soap opera or diva. Hell’s bells, let’s just make up stuff like Va-gina (a real girls name in our school). Her mom, like this author, is a moron.

Sasha

This “article” is really insulting. To the author: spellchecker, spellchecker is your friend, just because you can’t read or write does not mean that everyone can’t. I realize that nobody cares about punctuation or grammer in today’s age of texting, lol, whatever; however, it appears that all of the people that write these “fun” columns are functionally illiterate. Go read a book, people, not this tripe.

Holdon McGroin

Right, and they’re being replaced with Chineetha, Doreetha, Rotunda, Femahlee, Oranjay, Katness and other more “modern” names. I like the way Moms Mabley used to say how a certain VERY large country named their kids. There were so many they’d just toss the flatware in the air and hear the bnanes when the spoons and forks hit the floor: Pinga, Ponga, Whong, Whang, Boing and so forth.

conradshull

I think all biblical names will endure. If this article was written 20 years ago, “Emma” would undoubtedly been on the list.

Cathy Roberts

You left out Dorcas, which is probably one of the few I actually agree will never come back. As for the others, people still use them, just more rarely.

Cuffs

That’s Daisy, not Myrtle, you idiots

maplemale

omg – your website is so packed full of junk and is so laggy. No way I’m clicking the next page button.

I think you went too far when you said the names would “never be seen again.”
Anyone with any real age on them know everything comes back sooner or later, and it seems we are making a turn around even as you wrote this fictional piece..

Not that I’m taking this list very seriously, but I completely disagree with it. I know plenty of women my age / younger with some of these names, and two children (one of whom just turned 1). These names may not appeal to you, the author, but I was hoping for a list of names that actually did fade into oblivion versus simply your personal opinion.

Papi

Stupid article by a stupid young woman who exhibits the worst about modern “journalism” including the failure to credit properly the owners of the images used, the failure to verify that the person in the photo is the actual person to whom she refers, and the lack of journalistic integrity by failing to include the source of this “scientific” study. Miss Marissa should be ashamed of herself.

Gibraltar

Author’s an idiot. Even though the article is less than half serious this kind of careless thinking only makes everybody look bad. The cultural significance of many of these names goes beyond just having an American identity. Such a narrow minded perspective i neither needed or wanted in today’s day and age, where blissfully ignorant people have already caused catastrophic damage to society and the world itself. (See climate change skeptics)

I would take Ethel or even Martha over lakesha or Tameka or dashwaan or shawanna or even marissa ANYDAY the African names are ugly and should stay in Africa. this is America. I actually heard of someone naming their baby Creighton! poor guy// Leland is even worse!

KamJos

What makes African names ugly? Like what exactly about it? Because there is nothing inherent to “Ethel” that makes it better than “Tameka”. And “stay in Africa, this is America”? Really? It’s 2013. God I hope you aren’t really American.

I am personal friends with 5 of the 15. I am in my early 30s, and so are they, and they are awesome. I even played in a metal band with one as my bassist. Go figure.

goodnight

This article is ridiculously bogus. Names tend to be cyclical in popularity. What is unpopular now may come back in 40-50 years after it’s been out of wide use. I named my daughter Hazel, which people also accuse of being an “old lady’s” name, but it suits her perfectly!

I had three aunts named Ingelah, Ingeborg, and Gundrun. Their mother (my grandmother) was named Ragnhild. I now have female cousins with those names and 2 of my cousins have daughters named Ragnhild. As you might guess, that line of the family is Scandinavian.

Corky214

What an obnoxious article, perhaps from an obnoxious writer?

skepticalofthisarticle

no references, statistics…..

hillplus

Rose and Gretchen? Seriously?

Guest

What a ridiculous list of names. Sure. there are a few names that were more common before 1960, but not Gretchen, Barbara, and Rose. A name that could be on the list is Harriett. Dorothy is also not common today. However, the writer of this article is wrong when she states that we’ll never be seeing these names again. There is a tendency for many names to go out of common use for a while, only to be revived again when someone with that name becomes famous. It seems to go in cycles.

JMQuinn

Lily Allen named her newest daughter Ethel Mary….

TheBigM

Hortense. No.

Also, “Phyllis” won’t ever come back. Too many middle schoolers now know the term “phallus” for this to ever be an acceptable name again.

Sera

You’re an idiot who has clearly done no research at all into naming trends and just made a list of names you thought were ‘old-fashioned’.

How did they come up with this BS? Did the author do actual census research, or did she just list names that she didn’t like?

clark

No Bertha??

Keith Morgavi

We have a tunnel boring machine named Bertha. Largest operational on the planet. Bertha is a popular name if for all the wrong reasons. The addition of the word Big before the name implies great size.

Mary DeVaughn

I have a young niece named Rose and a granddaughter with the middle name of Opal. And hey, Hannah and Isabella – extreme “Old Lady” names when I was growing up – came back! As did Jacob and Ethan for boys.

SimplySissy

Very poorly written and totally out of touch with current fads. I’m 25, and my top baby names are Ian, Louis, Rose, and Ruth – all smack of ‘oldness.’ And for gosh sake, if you’re just going to randomly Google a name for photos, be a little more selective about it. Some of those pictures were terrible.

Bobby Jean

Really? Making fun of someone’s name is the lowest form of bullying. Immature, mean spirited drivel like this fuels schoolyard confrontations and contributes to the skyrocketing suicide rate among adolescents. The hater masquerading as a writer should be retrained or fired.

Gretchen Ruth D.

Haha…. Guess I’m two for two.

BlueVibe

Your Myrtle is actually Daisy. That’s Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan in the 1974 version of _The Great Gatsby_. Myrtle is a different character/actress.

Also, two of my cousins have daughters named Ruth. Yes, it was our grandmother’s name, but still.

Do you know anything about naming trends? Or did you just pick a bunch of names you don’t like and assume they’re dying out because you won’t use them?

Geoffrey Whitten

THIS IS JUST A PLAIN STUPID ARTICLE!

Bojorco

Oh come on. As long as there are Jews who want at least some connection to the old testament, there’ll be Ruths, Esthers, Naomis and Sarahs.

CLW

I love the name Naomi….and I’m not Jewish…..I’m an “old black lady.”

Ray C

Though I do agree with most people that this article misses the mark as far as names that we will never see again. You have to admit they’re not the most popular if you were to probably do research on the most popular names for new babies for a couple years.

Ray C

Most people that still use these names are naming them after family members, friends, and celebrities. Some like the names because they come across as high class names. I could see some rich celebrity or politician using these names.

changing name frequency is an interesting topic, but the author is sort of twitty. There are examples of names like Abigail, which became low frequency, and are now common again

Darla

Ridiculous! The author clearly didn’t do any research whatsoever and simply made a list of names that were unappealing in her opinion or else she would know that old fashioned names are one of the hottest trends right now. Mildred, Ethel (although I like it) and Gertrude might belong on that list for now, but Ruth, Gretchen and Rose? My guess is that the author doesn’t have small children or else she would know that these names are on the rise again. And fabulous Phyllis will make a come back soon, a la similar sounding Alice and BEATRICE (both part of the hundred -year-old names list that are cutting edge again). You’re less likely to hear 70’s and 80’s staples like Melissa, Stacy, or Kristen amongst the daycare set than most of the names on her list.

stephanie rose

I know a 4 year old named Ruth, a six year old Agatha and a ten year old Gretchen. And my middle name is Rose, as is my 9 year old daughter’s. Marge is just short for Margaret, which won’t be going out of style anytime soon, I’d wager. But I’ll give you Gertrude. My grandmother’s name was Elsie Gertrude. Nobody in my family has named their daughter’s after her.

KBinPgh

I think several of these names are not heading for extinction. I’m surprised that Bertha or Hazel weren’t on the list.

I think many of these names have fallen out of favor, but some won’t disappear entirely. For instance, a name like Ruth is biblical, and many parents still look to the Bible for inspiration in naming their children. Gretchen is a common German name, so I don’t think there’s any real danger of it dying out. And though many people seem to move away from the old trend of naming children for their grandmothers and other ancestors, there are plenty who do. many of these names may not show up as first names but maybe wedged in as middle names.

Bob

Do to the Divergent film series coming out soon, I have a feeling the name Beatrice is going to make a come back.

BubbaChump

what about Erma?

Goober

This is stupid. I lost brain cells reading it.

Heather Maybe

No forty year olds named Heather? I’m 54 and my mother wanted to name me this. She didn’t only because she didn’t think it fit my last name.

K.V.

My sister-in-law is named Heather and she is over 40.

Nan

My cousin was going to be Heather but was twins so ended up with a different name.

Mina

Myrtle is my Great Great Aunts name. Would name my daughter that if had girls.

Annoyed Reader

Just wanted to let you know I did not read it, because clicking through 15 pages is ridiculous. They would fit on one or two at the most.

Daniel Allen

Who writes this crap? Did the author do any actual research or just pull this out of an orifice?

Daniel P Hanover

The latter.

Don

These names are every bit as good as Marissa.

Don

This article reeks of an origin of Liberal snobbish attitudes.

Birch Barlow

What does Liberalism have to do with anything? You’ve completely negated your point about the writer being presumptuous by making such a huge presumption. I can’t take that seriously.

How much researcher went into this? Zero? One person’s personal opinion? Casually picked off some list, I suppose? I

If this article is representative of this site, it is a waste of time. I am not retuning, if i can help it. It’s clear to me you are just trying to generate ad revenue, with the one name per page thing. Well, I’m not going beyond #3, sorry to deprive you of your 5 cents.

My daughter’s name is Josephine! I think it’s very elegant. We do call her Josie, for short. But I don’t think it will EVER disappear.

Why didn’t “Marla” or “Marlo” make the cut? I haven’t heard those names in YEARS. My middle name is MARLO- Uggg.

Daniel P Hanover

Change it ! 🙂 My sister was born in 1962 and was named “Janet Lynn”. But she was NEVER called Janet. Instead she was called “Janlyn”, from the earliest age, and as an adult she added the middle name “Eileen” (which coincidentally is also the name of my 3-legged cat).

ferdie cassel

Irene, Edna, Ernestine, Constance

Daniel P Hanover

Grace, Theresa, Frances, Irene. All relatives of mine.

PaulLe

Doris, Hortense, Sybil, Henrietta. Some names popular with my generation (I’m in my 50s) are fast fading: Donna, Carol, Sharon, JoAnne, Susan. They’re not dead but you don’t hear them much anymore.

Daniel P Hanover

I’m in my 50’s also, and I agree. This sort of thing is cyclical, and subject to fads.

Maggie

I know of two Eleanors under the age of 8; a Josephine of about 8, lots of kids with Rose as a middle name. And what I find quite amusing is that while many African-Americans use names that they think sound African, the Africans I know are Josephine, Irene, Priscillia, Christian, Danny, Douglas, Wilfred…you get the idea!

alur

I cringe when I hear these once popular names, but everything is cyclical. I wouldn’t count them out when I hear names like Sophia which reminds me of a soap opera character, Ashley which reminds me of every dad’s angel who turn’s into every frat guy’s Saturday night date, or Mackenzie that sets up a kid for a gender-identity crisis.

The cliche applies. Everything that is old is new again.

6Cinnamongirl3

Did you have a bunch of 22 year olds research this?

aztecace

waiting for someone to mention my brother’s and father’s name when they get the male names, want to see if they even show the name Wirt.

Disappointed in some of this article, I know of a few names on here that are being used frequently. Ex: Rose. Some of them should have been replaced with names like Bertha, Edna, Bernice, Helga, Maude, and Mabel.

Frankly Frank

Names of people I know: Beatrice, Martha, Lily, Rosie, different versions of Mary (I was surprised that Mary wasn’t on the list), Marge/Margaret, Jane (Also surprised this wasn’t here), Barbara, Gretchen. and an Agatha. I was also surprised she or”we,” as she said at least once, didn’t pick on Frances, Janet, Marcia, Susan, Cindy, Jennie, Patricia, Louise, Nora, Wendy, Brenda, Veronica, or Linda. I know people with most of these as well, I would trade all the boys names given to girls (Aidan, Ryan, Reese, John–yes I know one–Sean, Jamie, Nicky, Ford, Michael, Sidney, Ryan, ) the made up names (Anything with “iqua” or gratuitous punctuation marks) or names with ridiculous spelling for the Marthas, Beas, Jennies, Barbaras, etc….. Life is too short to play name that pronoun or guess the pronunciation or workout that spelling.

Ginger

I’m sorry but just because you know someone with a name or you named your kids one of these names does not mean it isn’t dying. Check the SSN name website. All of these names are losing popularity. Maybe the title of this is a bit misleading.

Night Owl

Hmm I know a Barbara, a Gretchen, 2 Ruths (first and middle name for 2 different people). I can’t remember any of the other names either..oh yes Martha- knew one in college. Knew a Margie (now Maggie). So when are you going to do 20 male names we’ll never see again?

mrs roundtree

Hey my name is Marjorie, Marge for short and I love my name.

Mark S

So, is Phyllis a name that we’ll never see again, or is a cool name that hipsters will bring back? You can’t have it both ways.

Whoever put this list together needs to be slapped upside the head and then told they can never compile another list. I hope to high hell they didn’t get paid for this.

Ellen

Several of these names have been climbing the charts lately and Eleanor and Josephine are both in the top 300 and trending up. I’ll give you Myrtle and Ethel though. I agree that they’re probably out forever. They were the Nevaeh and Kaelyn of their time.

BE Weaver

I am a barbara and I know lots of women with these names

konajinx

All this names need to go into the toilet NOW. God, these are terrible and humiliating!!!111one

Nancy

Never hear the name Nancy anymore, either.

Nan

Peaked in 1925 and been on a downward trend ever since.

Loriey

During the 1970’s Jennifer was extremely popular. My girlfriend had her daughter back then & shared a hospital room with 3 other new moms who also named their daughter Jennifer. The nurses called the room “the Jennifer room”. When she started school there were 3 other girls in her class named Jennifer as well as multiple Jennifers in other classrooms at that time. The teachers referred to them as Jennifer A, B, C, D….yikes!

Reno Berkeley

Same thing with the name Michelle. I’ve known so many Michelles in my life, it’s ridiculous.

Daniel P Hanover

Too many DAMN “Michael”s in the world !

Daniel P Hanover

I remember the same story when I was a kid but the name was “Joanne”.

Nan

My cousin was named for her grandma and my aunt never looked at baby names so had no idea she was using the most popular name at the time, Jennifer.

1Max_Wedge1

But they can be named North West and Apple. And of course Lafonda, Laquisha are very popular in the ghetto.

Danielle_DuBois

Half of Minnesota is named Gretchen. And Rose has long since been on the upswing. Just you wait Marissa, that’s going to be an outdated name in 30 years, too.

Missy Lenoir

Following name trends has been a hobby of mine since I was a teen and half those names have been on my personal radar to upswing in the next decade. I’ve had Eleanor and Ruth both pegged for a future top 50 for a while now.

stopkidding

For the last 2 years, more black and hispanic babies have been born in the US than white babies. The trend of convoluted, nonsense black names will continue to grow. Society will continue to be filled with black and hispanic names, as these are the groups that are overrunning society, running the country, and these groups, along with gays, are the ones being catered to.

Leigh

You poor thing, God bless you.

Reno Berkeley

I feel so sorry for you that you feel that way. What a pity you’re a racist jerk.

Melia Sese

Butthead …

redbirds

still can’t believe there are so many racists out there. and they seem to be proud of themselves. but they are only stupid, stupid, stupid!

loaded

What happened to Agnes?

SheilaKA

Silly. I know two babies under the age of one who are “Eleanor”. and they forgot “Lydia”.

Reno Berkeley

What about names like Ione, Harriet, Joan, Linda, Helen, Doris, or Edna?

Daniel P Hanover

I wouldn’t put Linda in there.

Nan

I wouldn’t rule out Joan and Helen as they’re both saints names.

obdoqbopqo

My niece’s name is Medusa. The funny thing is, she grew up to be completely hideous.

bokuda

This is what happens when 20 somethings take over writing in the media. They put little effort into researching beyond their own experience. It reminds me of an article a few years ago by a young woman who tracked the origin of the word “kawabonga” all the way back to 1960’s California surfers! Anyone remember Chief Thunderthud?

ethel

What a load of nonsense. some of these names will outlast the internet.

Angelina

I have a daughter’s whose middle name is Rose, and one named Vera. Old fashioned names are classy if you ask me.

bob whitzel

JUST SHOW THE WHOLE FREAKING LIST OMG

tired of reading

I’d like to read all of them, but I got tired of waiting for each page to load. Put them all o one page for us to read.

Daniel P Hanover

I agree. They should always do that with these types of articles with lists.

K.V.

seriously….like Buzzfeed

NBN

Did you actually research this or did you just take the first 20 “old lady” names that can to mind?? Plenty of these names are still widely in use for newborns! “Extinct” is the last word I would use for any name – they always make comebacks.

rob

I rather perfer LaTrasha, LaTrina and Shaequeena myself….

PandaJ

My mother and grandmother’s names are on this list! However, like others have said, there couldn’t have been much research that went into this. Names like Opal, Rose and Agatha are making a comeback and names like Gretchen, Ruth and Beatrice never went away.
Did an editor actually sign off on this piece or can people self publish crap?

Daniel P Hanover

I always liked the name “Gretchen”.

Daniel P Hanover

When was the last time I met a woman named “Ethel” ? My MOM is named “Ethel”, I’m her first-born and we were BOTH born on January 2nd (exactly 25 years apart). 🙂

Indian Wells

I would love to see the names on the list, but the crummy format of having to see each name as a reloaded page just isn’t worth it. Your format sucks and has lost my interest!

Cam

I am a teacher and I see many of these names. As long as they are family names, they’ll be around!

william

Who the hell are you to tell people what to name their children? Some of the name that are given to children is just plain ridiculous. The parents must have been high when they “dreamed” some of these names up.

carolyn

how about Beulah ?

K.V.

seriously, a dinosaur name if ever there was!

Melia Sese

Or Eunice.

jodanda123

You forgot the worst name of all, Heidi!

Johnny59

e these list were you need to open a new page each time. Sucks having to wait for everything to load (ads)

K.V.

When I hear the name Myrtle, I think of Myrtle the Turtle at the New England Aquarium!

K.V.

My grandmother is Blanche, my other grandmother was Ruth, and my cousins’ other grandmother was Josephine! I love the name Phyllis.

Brendan Jordan

Marissa, you forgot the name “Marissa,” equally as archaeic as some of the names on this list.

Also this list is incorrect, wrong-minded, and serves no purpose. I hope you are in no way persuaded that your work benefits mankind in anyway at all.

You realize names are cyclical in popularity, no? What is cool now will be old lady names in 60 years; what’s an old lady name now might be a wondefully unique and cool name in 20 years (at which point you yourself will be terribly old and fully disposable, by the way).

Please stop writing. You’re an embarrassment to the very society you’re attempting to influence.

Mitch

Marissa is a dum dum.

Nashville_Os_Fan

Marge…. nickname for Marjorie….. my 7-year-old’s name

Chuck

I don’t think Gretchen should be on this list but I would’ve added Edna.

chiarabrown

Here’s a secret about style, “Style Blazer” – things go out of style and then, after they’ve been gone long enough, they come back into style.

Mo Ts

Well you can bet we’ll be seeing a whole lot more, Sauquisha’s and L’voniqua’s, and Lysterine’s.

Fotogrrl

Well…the tag *names of old white ladies* certainly reveals Marissa’s ;point of view!
Why don’t you tag this *names of old black ladies* and see the reactions you provoke?
Just as an example- many Black Folks choose Biblical names for their children and proudly pass the names through their families. You know- names like RUTH?

Ignorant writer!

Todd Scarbrough

Hortense. Hilda. Bertha. Jolene. Carlotta. Heidi.

Blanche25

I was sure I would find my name on the list – Blanche. It will continue to exist in my family – my grandmother, my mother, me and my 15-year old daughter share this name.

leecris

Barbara, Ruth, Rose, Gretchen, Josephine – all will still be used – but Bertha, Evelyn, Lucille, Claudia, and Lela belong on this list.

Jamie Shaffer

In 2012, Evelyn was the 27th most popular name in the US for baby girls (according to the Social Security Administration). I’m not so sure it’s going anywhere quite yet.

Keith Morgavi

This article is a shallow and vacuous opinion and not a newsworthy article. So Agatha sounds too much like agony. WOW. And Marissa sounds too much like a sound I make when I go to the bathroom.

AndrewAndrewAndrew

Most of this is generally true (other than the snide remarks about things like Agatha sounding like agony…) though the author is DEAD wrong about Eleanor given that is has been increasingly in popularity over the last 20 years. It was # 585 in 1994 for example, but #135 in 2012.

dcizscumm

if u cant do a staright article without having to flip thru 25 pages u SUKKAZZ

scy385

People should name their children whatever they like. Sometimes children are named after people whom are being honored. Ain’t no article going to tell me what to name my child.

Solus

This is just opinion. Those “outdated” names are certianly better than what’s been done to kids lately…some of my students’ names are so twisted and mutated that they’re nearly unpronounceable or else they sound like regular names, but the spelling is totally weird.

Marge, by the way, is short for Margaret…as is Peggy and Maggie.

kirt schaefer

Remember the “Golden Years ” when the “Media” reported news , rather than tried to make it?

Don Pat

Interesting article, too bad you had to page through 20 pages of crap which take forever to load to see the names. I lost interest after about 6 pages.

Noman_2

Fantastic. This is a great article! For the first time in I don’t know how many years, someone hasn’t turned a trivial article into a political rant.

anonymous—-

The younger Jennifers you know of, who are in the 11-17 age group are mostly minority groups. Mexicans, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Vietnamese, Indians, Arabs, Cubans, Brazillians, Indonesians, etc. I’ve seen many Jennifers in every ethnic group, even several non-English speaking women have that name.

Wendy Wilkins V.

I definitely don’t see Rose or Ruth disappearing. My grandmother was Alma Muriel, neither of which is seen today, except in Utah where boys are named Alma.

Beatrice will make a comeback soon. The title character from Divergent is named Beatrice, or “Tris” for short.

dantheman08822

We need more Judys. And a lot more Carlys. The latter is a great name for a cat, especially, a singing cat.

Melia Sese

Well … I named my daughters (now 38,36,and 33) Angela, Martina, and Jasmine; and my grand-daughters Susana, Ofelia, Lidia, Melia, and Karen. They are between 5 – 12 years old. I didn’t see any of those names on this list, but aside from my name (which is the source for one of them as my son honored me by naming his youngest after), most of these (ok maybe not Ofelia) seem rather run-of-the-mill.

JohnBrownII

Bertha…..you forgot Bertha.

Pennsylvanianne

Most people, when they think of the Robert Redford movie, think of the actress who actually played Myrtle, Karen Black, instead of the actress you have pictured, Mia Farrow. Mia played Daisy Buchanan.

Oldnewbie

Missing a few… when is the last time anyone named their female child Sally, Jane, Joan, Beth, Sandy, or Dot? Today, if a traditional name is used, they have to give it an alternative spelling (I worked with a Jane but she spelled it Janie).

Nan

Sally started out as a derivative of Sarah, Beth is short for Elizabeth, Sandy can be from Alexandra or its own name, Dot is short for Dorothy.

I used to work with a young woman whose name was spelled Melanie. She insisted it was “me-LAY-nee” instead of “MEL-a-nie” which was frustrating for all as nobody remembered her pronunciation. Whether the pronunciation originated with her or her parents I have no idea.

kelliayne Potomac

In my grandmother’s high school graduating class of 1900 there were five girls and one boy. There were Flossy, Mabel, Matilda, Jessie and Gertrude. The boy was Max.

Elionu

So these names are going extinct? All the better to give my future children old names such as these, so that they do NOT go extinct. They sound much more like women’s names than “madison” and “taylor” anyway

snarkk

The author’s name “Marissa” kinda sucks. How’s that for a vacuous description, like all the rest in this “article”…

Camille Monae

A lot of these names are already coming back. They are also popular oversees. Only Americans seem to have a need to have their child’s name be “unique”. I personally love the Josephine, and while I don’t want a kid, it is my first choice for a name.

Jamie

I disagree with some of these. I think there will always be conservative Christians who name their children Biblical names like Ruth and Martha.

Amanda Hugginkiss

One of the dumbest articles EVER – I know 2 little girls named Rose, both under 8 years old, and one named Beatrice in her teens. And anyway, names are cyclical, I’m in my 50s, and when I was a kid only old ladies were named Emma or Sophia, now those have come back.

Nan

I know a 20 year old Sophia.

Michelle Hackler

Names go in cycles. As long as people read the Bible or keep genealogies these names will live on and come back sooner or later. The biggest influence, I believe, that influences changes to the form of these names will take in the future, is that names that were once commonly nick names are now used on birth certificates. For periods in the past only formal versions of names were put on birth certificates and became legal names while nick names were in common usage. Because of common usage names that were once nick names may become proper names. Besides before the advent of common usage dictionaries for different languages there were a variety of formal spellings for proper names. With the advent of the usage of dictionaries which formalized spellings of proper names. But today with the mixing of differing language communities within many countries of the world and with differing forms of interpersonal communications, people are using different language versions of legal names which means that personal names form different languages may be incorporated into other languages.

Nan

Before the state dealt with vital statistics, births were recorded by the families religious affiliation so names were limited based on religious requirements. My understanding is that Jews give family names but not of the living so people would be named for deceased relatives. In Catholic tradition, people were named for saints.

Nora Lynch

I know a young Rose; a young Gretchen; a young Eleanor; and a few young Marthas.

Brett Delong

20 pages for 20 names instead of a list? I made it to page 2 before bailing out.

William Brown

I am sorry Marissa. I have students with many of the names on your list. Pendulums swing back and forth and what has fallen out of favor today will have a resurgence tomorrow. This is a stupid, shallow article.

1Max_Wedge1

And the new names of Blu Ivy, Apple, North East are so good, right? Did they mention Lawanda, Laquisha? Of course not then the blacks would get offended.

Jackson Raushenberg

lol, you ok man?

rollervic

My mom’s name was Ethel. Both of her grandmothers and her aunt were named Ethel. When I was a teenager I asked my Nanny (grandmother) “how in the world could you name your little baby a name like that?” She was p*ssed and told me that was a popular name back then. My dad called my mom Lizzie and her aunt’s nickname was Tootie.

weidner903

The article might have been titled “Are These Names Headed for Extinction?”

Cruelty Free

These are great names for cats.

Mickey Masterson

Don’t agree with a lot of the names listed above. Beatrice and Gretchen are beautiful names and Rose is used quite frequently as a middle name these days. Ethel, Gladys and Mildred will probably never come back but you never know. Names go in cycles. There are a ton of women over 60 named Kathy, Susie and Debbie.

Jackson Raushenberg

Agreed I like Rose, and beatrice too… also a lot of girls ar enamel after their grandmothers or at least take on their grandmothers name as a middle name. I guess some of these names are dated… no statistics shown to back up claims.

can’t think of a good name

I went to nursing school w/ a Heather who is my age almost 50 & my niece who is 40 is Sasha & I know a 5 year old Lily.

Spank

Names vary in popularity. One generation doesn’t equal “disappearing”. I can cover half of those names just with friends, family and childhood schoolmates. As for “Eileen/Ilene”, do I even have to go there? I mean, COME ON-

pia

If and when I have children, I always said I would give them older names…I like Gretchen and Blanche

Kronsbeast

This is babble. Names go in and out of style. They will likely never become extinct. By the way, have you ever met a Trudy (Gertrude) or a Millie (Mildred)? Such diminutives are still in use.

Devara

My real name is Barbara. So I guess now I have to go kill myself, eh?

Paul Ratliff

To the person who penned this nonsense….who do you think you are? I bet you are another of those know it all twenty somethings who is looking for something to impress an editor above you…go find a real job and leave good people to their own business.

Steve

Cinderella, now there is a name I like and you don’t see too often. As for boys, I think I’ll name my son Herodotus. Either that or Rumpelstiltskin. No, on second thought maybe not Rumpelstiltskin. The mean kids would probably call him wrinkled foreskin. Maybe Gilligan. Yeah I like Gilligan. Can Gilligan be a first name? Screw it, if people can call their kids Dakota I can call mine Gilligan. That settles it Gilligan and Cinderella. Or maybe Betty. Yeah, Betty and Cinderella. No, definitely Gilligan.

On a side note, my sisters named her son Rodney but everyone calls him Dave. I don’t know why.

StandingO

The only purpose of stupid cyber-filler such as that piece of nonsense is to try and get you to listen to one of the many ads that pop up.

DeeN

this is an idiotic article. Sorry I fell for it and clicked off my newspapers website.

Fun looking at the names that have been posted – especially the awful ones. Most of the kids in my area of the Pacific Northwest are named Cedar, Forest, Lake, Sky, etc. There are also some horrible ones like a young boy who is named Chainsaw – no kidding.

Cheryl

The way this is set up, it is hard to scroll back and forth and takes way too long to read. Why not just put the list together and let us read through it?

InkedLin

They make more money from advertisers by forcing you to click through

chromewarrior

I thought jennifer and michelle would for sure b on this list.

InkedLin

Pay attention, gentle sheep! Far more important to conform to a morally and intellectually bankrupt society than to name your child something important to you and your family

radiationproof

Used to know a guy who had one leg shorter than the other.
He didn’t like being called I-lean.

wow, you must be angry all the time… was it hard thinking up this list?

TSRVT2

Flagged for being a complete juvenile adz whole.

Jeffrey Peterson

Articles like these are so stupid for many reasons.
The popularity of names rise and fall. Some parent somewhere will find an “extinct” name unique and will use it and suddenly it becomes one of THE names of the time.
Articles like these are also STUPID because, in order to sell more ads, one has to click on separate individual pages to see them all. I got tired and quite after seven. I would have seen more ads if everything had been on a single page.

Claudia Gray

Really poorly done even by this place’s weak standards. Half of these names are coming back – and I stopped even bothering to read at “Rose,” which is hugely popular. Hackwork click bait – sorry to even have read that far.

Frank Rodriguez

I don’t think that any female name will ever go “completely” extinct. In addition, the United States is a nation of immigrants, so names that might sound “old” to Americans might still be current with various immigrants’ family traditions. Also many Biblical names like Mary, Ester, and Ruth are immune from going extinct because of how important these women were in the Bible.

Nan

Don’t forget Martha.

Brian Allan Cobb

All the more reason to bring them back.

deedee

My Grandmother’s names… Irene & Beulah

Old Poopy

They can tag “names of old white ladies”, yet, if it had a tag, with old mexican or old black lady names, imagine the liberal outrage? Filthy liberal hypocrites.

Jackson Raushenberg

wow, you must be angry at everything, lol.

TSRVT2

Scum like you need to be removed from the gene pool.

eileen

My name is Eileen and I am okay if it goes extinct

Richard

Ms. Ellis needs to get out into the world a little more. The “extinction” of these names depends on where you happen to be standing in this country. My mother was named Iola MYRTLE. My grandmother was ETHEL May. I have a cousin named GERTRUDE. My first girlfriend in elementary school was JOSEPHINE and I dated RUTH in high school. If you come to Tucson you will find many girls/women named ROSE. I have an Aunt MILDRED. Get out of your NYC office and do a little research about your subject before you write this stuff about that which you don’t know.

katherine1966

Should also add Hazel, Hortense, Gladys and Melva/Melba. Also horrible names.

Jefferson

You forgot Maude.

Leslie (eserafina42)

Names virtually never go “extinct” – there will always be kids named after Grandma or Grandpa (where ARE the “extinct” male names, anyway?) and all you need is for a character in a book, movie or TV show to have one of these names and it will shoot back up into the top 10 again.

Nan

Like Friends and Emma.

JR48

Although some folks are shallow enough to worry about whether or not a name is ‘in style’, no name will ever be completely extinct. Some will always be more popular than others and they oftentimes cycle. People will name their children after a favorite character or friend/family member. So as long as there is literature/movies and ancestors, names will come around again.

Both of my children have middle names because of relatives from several generations ago. Were my son to have his middle name as his first, he’d turn heads because it’s very old fashioned. Bowing to the past, names live on.

Btw, I think that it would be better to be an Ethel than to be one of a 1000 Madisons.

Dls2k2

Or Brittany or Britannie or Britany etc. ad nauseum.

And while ‘Ilene’ may be very uncommon, it’s because it is not usually spelled that way. ‘Eileen’ is not about to disappear.

krackatoeowww

given the era these names were most popular i am surprised “Velma” is not included.

Dls2k2

And Agnes.

Jay Wilson Fisher

Why do you have Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan paired with the name Myrtle? Myrtle Wilson was portrayed by the late Karen Black in the 1974 version of ‘The Great Gatsby’. Maybe this piece should be about how young writers don’t have a vast body of pop culture knowledge beyond The Cosby Show and are becoming increasingly sloppier in their work. A grievous insult to the memory of Karen Black who passed away in 2013 and to readers over thirty everywhere.

LoveMyName

This looks like a list that someone “wishes” were true but many of these names are making a comeback…particularly the names that were famous in the 30s.

Kae

The writer could have made this list much, much shorter if she’d bothered to look at the Social Security baby names site. Rose, Ruth, Eleanor, Eileen, Josephine, Marlene, Martha, Beatrice, and Barbara all show up in the top 1000 names for 2012. She’s obviously out of touch with what the people who aren’t naming their kids Addison, Isabelle, and Kylie ARE naming their kids.

Dls2k2

My thought too…at least half the listed names are NOT going to disappear.

Watch out! My aunts have names like Bertha and Gertrude, names I thought I’d never hear being applied to people born after me, but names like that and others and have become the next wave of “modern” names!

Tray

You missed Hortense

ordinarywoman

I’ll be happy when girls’ names that describe “things” will be outmoded! Like Tiffany (lamp), Brooke (stream or Brooks Bros. jacket), Brittany (region of France), Sky, Apple, and Madison (street in New York; Former President) and are replaced with classic girls’ names that have real meaning. And yeah, the classics are ancient names. What’s wrong with that? Gretchen = ‘little pearl’, Ruth = ‘companion’ or ‘friend’…

Nan

Tiffany is a greek name, related to Theophany.

Bill MOyers

Forgot to add “Marissa” to this list.

Tallulah107

What Sarah said. This is a go-to list for expecting hipster parents! And I’m sorry, Eleanor and Beatrice are timeless.

Freddie Benevento

Funny… this article will no doubt make these names more popular.

Ella

These names are way better than some of the stupid made up names some poor kids are stuck with now. Can you imagine being 50 and being called Kylie? Or Kaylee? Or Exten? Ugh, give me a break. Classic IS sometimes better!

Stacy L.

Grandma Ashleigh. lol

ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies

Some old names from my family that I never hear anymore: Muriel, Lorena, Irma. There you go hipsters, put those back into circulation.

cdw

When I was young, Emma and Hannah were right there with Mildred and Gladys on the old lady name list. I would have never dreamed they would make a comeback (one of my grandmothers was an Emma) but they are at the top of the list. It just goes to show you never know what will happen!

granitestater1029 .

How about MARION +/or IRENE? Or Betty? Or Lucille (Lucy)? Or Rena?

ReformedWingNut

My 56-year-old aunt is named Heather.

OhPlease

Not one of these “old lady” names makes them sound like white trash. Lesson to be learned there.

Jen

I teach in a high school with 190 students grades 9-12 and we have three students named Eleanor.

Aileen

there are 36 ways of spelling “Eileen” So I don’t think it’s going out of fashion yet. I bet some of the other names also have alternate spellings.

LTO

I had a graduating class of 48 kids (1994) and 2 of them were named Gretchen.

Renee

I think you missed one name…maybe Marlene should have been replaced with Helga…

Mick

Hortense?

Larry Bradley

A number of those names, along with many others, were names derived from people in the Christian Bible. Small wonder that they have almost disappeared at the same rate that people have abandoned the Faith. I expect that those Biblical names will make a comeback as Christianity makes its comeback.

Amanda

I have a 7 yr old named Rose..and she’s not the only one in her school.

Janet Aldrich

Hard as it may be for you to believe, there are other cultures besides America and in those cultures (and among those who came out of them) ethnic names like Gretchen (or Ermintrude or whatever) are still popular and I doubt they care what you think.

Lab

Ruth is a wonderful name that indicates compassion and wisdom. My daughter was named after the Ruth of the Scriptures.

Gail

Marge only a cartoon? What about novelist and poet Marge Piercy?

Mike Kennedy

Surprisingly, if you visit the Philippines, a lot of the names mentioned here as going extinct are still frequently used to name youngsters in that country. So even if many of these names are not as popular in the US as they once were, they are still used elsewhere in the world.

Allyn

You missed Hazel, but you’re wrong on most of those names. Some of them sound harsh and will never become popular again, but as the old folks who still have the softer names die off and a new batch of parents start having babies, they’ll get nostalgic for the antique names. Like Hazel and Eleanor and Beatrice. (All were on my name list, one of them used.)

babytoes

Thought for sure my name would be there (Linda) and surprised Bertha isn’t.

Stepper

This is all based on your opinion!
Most of these names aren’t going anywhere.

Susan Gordon

I named my Daughter Josie. Short for Josephine. I haven’t heard of a Susan–like me–in YEARS. All the Susan’s I know are older than me. I’m 49.

thrice

How about Moon Unit? I know of only one…
And did anyone other than the Bonos.seriously name a woman Chastity lately without being ironic?

I’m wondering where this writer got her facts. Several of these names are NOT on their way out. My 2 yr old’s name is Ruth. We’ve had to put her middle name on her stuff to make sure it gets returned to the correct Ruth at church. We have a 6 yr old next door neighbor named Rose. I know a handful of Barbaras under the age of 20 in the last few communities we’ve lived in. I know a Marlene that is 25 and a couple of Gretchens (30s probably. Maybe late 20s)

DrColostomy

How ’bout Moochele???

TSRVT2

How about you shut your asinine juvenile trap?

carlaannhogan

What about “Edna”??

Michele L. Perry

There were other people named Blanche?

DesertSun59

Martha, Trudy and Edna.

You missed those.

erica

the second photo is of Daisy (Mia Farrow), not Myrtle! Myrtle had the red hair.

SDF

My eighty-something mother’s name is “Emma”. Most of her life she hated her name as it was so dated and old-fashioned. She says it was old-fashioned when she was born in the early thirties. Now it’s been in the top three names for girls for the past ten or more years.

Cherié Summers

I disagree with some, like Barbara (Barbie), and Rose (Rosie)

Alisa Carter

I’m not sure what you were trying to achieve with this list, but I would give anything to go out for dinner (or at least tea) with any one of the ladies you used as examples. Whether their names have anything to do with their accomplishments, I don’t know. But that is a powerhouse of a list. Every one a winner, an achiever and a role model.

Curtis Lusk

Most of those names are better than what actors and singers are naming their kids now

TSRVT2

We named out youngest Phoebe, after her grandmother, her great great grandmother, and her great great great great grandmother.

Puccanella

Looking at this list, I thought my name might appear.. I am 19, named Josephine, and I LOVE IT! 😀
Maybe I’m just a tad old fashioned. 😛

Valentina

This article really lacks creativity. Many of the names mentioned are here to stay. While we are at it.. do I note some bias on the part of the writer? Marissa Ellis…one of your hashtags on top is “Old white names.”

Amber

Heading toward extinction? For most of these names, hardly. It’s hard to take this list seriously at all when so many distinctive, even contrarian names are listed that would appeal to too many “hipsters.” “Extinct” implies that a name is unappealing to essentially all styles (think Ima, Ida, Oda, etc). Sorry, but I’m unimpressed.

Chefpaulo

What? No Hortense? Can you imagine being a 13-year-old with a name like Hortense?
(Fortunately, Fannie fell out of favor about 120 years ago.)

Nan

Fannie is also a nickname for Frances.

Autumn

I know two Gretchens, one 17 and the other 19. I also know a 17 year old Gertrude. I also know a Gladys and my mom’s middle name is rose.

Tera

Funny. I know a 5 year old Josephine, but the only Violet I’ve ever met is 70+

guest

I think I would prefer my daughter or son to have an “old fashioned” name than the overused Brayden, Jayden, Ayden…etc (insert anything with a Den at the end) or the ever popular Neveah….

Hilarious. I’ll take the occasional ‘Ethel’ over 10,000 identical “Madisons” any day!

Sophia Washington

My 25yr old cousin just broke up with a 21yr old Barbara.When he told us her name both me and my cousin (his older sister) made a face and then laughed…I’ve never in my life met a 21yr old Barbara.

tv22

Some of those names were old in the 60s! But a lot of popular names today were old then too: Jacob, Micah, Mason, Ethan, Emma or Olivia. Plus, a lot of immigrants use “old” names to name their kids and many of those have biblical roots.

MomWhoKnows

My daughter’s name is Josephine (born 2007) and one close friend is Eleanor (2008). I don’t think you really know people with children.

Bucky

does “Apple” have an expiration date??

DenyseP

I disagree about “Rose.” Rose makes a lovely middle name. I have worked with two student assistants, both younger than 30, named Blanche and Gretchen and I think those are charming names, I would agree, however, that Ethel, Mildred and Gertrude are probably going to be extinct soon.

Starscream

I agree with most of the names on this list but Barbara? Nothing wrong with that name IMO. Rose? But so dont see Phyllis coming back… actually who would name their daughters some of the names on this list? Good riddance to most on here. I doubt anyone will see this comment a year after the article but oh well heh

z

hardly names that are going away.
No o quit a few children covering most of these names.
In fact an article like this may make them more popular.

Theodore Terrd

Oh Myrtle, is that you Dear?

Kitwench

These names don’t go extinct, they cycle.
Only a few name a child for a mother,
a few more for a beloved grandmother.
But a great-grand-mothers name is ‘too old’.
Then when great grandma and her generation have passed on,
the next generation discovers all these ‘ unused, beautiful, strong’ names.
This article is like global warming – exaggerate a normal variation in pattern to claim the sky is falling without seeing the overall norms.

Danielle P

I think Beatrice and Gretchen are making a come back and can be cute names.

Phillis Lewis

my five month old grand-daughter is named Willow Rose & we use both names being from the South lol

Phillis Lewis

but one name you probably won’t see much of is her mother’s name – Anjoanell Marie, and it has the french pronounciation. Her father and I made it up, from three different names. We took Ann, Joan, and Marie & put them all together gave them the french pronounciation with the middle name of Marie, Most people just call her Angel.

Phillis Lewis

I think names are very important to a child, I remember how kids used to tease others at school over such stupid things as their name, I didn’t want my kids to have to go thru that & I wanted their names to be a special as I could make them, unfortunately my first two, I had to fight their father for their names every step of the way & I lost the battle both times, with the second two my then husband let me have my way.

Jerome Barry

My step-mom has “Myrtle” for one of her names. My daughter has a name from 2 of her great-grandmothers, both of which are perfectly modern. I wonder how weird they were in 1871 (not a typo) when my grandmother was born and 1924 when my wife’s grandmother was born.

Jerome Barry

And one of my mothers names was “Mildred”.

Jerome Barry

I had a cousin Margie, b. 1963.

Jerome Barry

I have a cousin younger than me who is a doctor named Ruth.

Jerome Barry

I had a grandmother named Rose.

theThinker

Many of those names are still wonderful. LOL @ the writer. “Parents beware, don’t name your daughters these names.” Barbara, Rose, Gretchen, those names are awesome. The story might have been better titled “names falling out of use”.

(Which, thanks for the heads-up that “mildred” and “agatha” are falling out of use.)

Some Guy

Ilene is a hugely popular name. I personally know about a dozen people although none spell it that way..

Doug Sterling

I think Marissa is passe since I read this stupid article.

D.

My great aunt’s name was Maude- what an old name!

D.

Some of those names will make great goat names! I’m always looking for unusual or infrequently used names! lol

idiocyspotter

This piece currently holds the top spot as “Most Idiotic Article on the Web”. Kudos, Marissa Ellis!

Diane Skolnique

You forgot Irene. You also dissed my mother Beatrice and my grandmother Rose. Shame on you.

Julie Marquez

The header says “Names of Old White Ladies”! EXCUSE me? Talk about racist. This site is crap.

JOhn Henderson

Odd names story was good. I read through them all but didn’t see my mother’s name was Thirza….

g

The popularity of these names is regionally and culturally specific. Gretchen is a very popular name in Texas, for example, and Beatrice in Great Britain. What a dumb article.

NM2000

You missed Edith.

Several of these are staging comebacks. I know two Eleanors and two Roses (with a third using Rose as a middle name)…all under age 4. I live in a liberal-leaning, upper-middle class area and recycling “old” names is all the rage and a lot are coming back around. Vivian, Amelia, and Portia as well.

disqus_A8n70bQbM8

Why only parents to be. When are people gonna wake up and realize not every couple can conceive a child? And do you have to be a PTB to find it interesting how names to change in popularity between generations? The world is so insensitive.

Unaffiliated

My daughters have two names that apparently are extinct. Ruth and Rose. Lovely names. Lovely ladies.

DiscoHarvey

Hopefully Laquanda, Kinesha, Latwanda, and D’Quondra will also be extinct in a generation.

De101801

whoever wrote this article is nuts….some of these names are used moreso lately and I have several friends who have used the names, Rose, Gretchen, for example, for their little girls. Do some more research before you put a dumb article like this online!!

angelosdaughter

Stupid article. Parents will name their children as they choose no matter what people think and against common sense. Now if they had an article called “The Stupidest Names that Should Never Have Been Given in The First Place……

jimjn

Blue Ivy is a silly name. It sounds like the name of a painting or something. Madison is so generic and it’s boring and non-descript.

Daniel Q

So…your BuyBull Cult names have to live on, even if they sound stupid and archaic? I doubt that.
These guys also forgot Geraldine, Bernice, Laverne, Lucy, Agnes, and a whole host of other stupid sounding female names — and these weren’t even in a cult book!

budgiegirl2

I wish I was as smart as you think you are.

MurderInTheBarn

Here’s an idea, name your children whatever you want! Wow, what a concept!

Gretchen Schmidt Bishay

When I saw this I hoped my name wasn’t on it, but by the time I read the whole thing I found its tone so conformist that I am proud to be on it.

Annie Stone

You’re name is stupid

Brett Gregory

These things tend to work in a cyclical pattern.No young parent wants to name their child after their parents, but dear, late great grandmother’s name is just the thing.

agular17

I duno, neighbors had a daughter that could never sit up straight, we called her.Wait for it. . . Ilene.

Suzann

I love old names that’s why we named our daughter Leah Marie. Everytime
I mention her in a conversation I smile when I reference her name.

oldguy68

They forgot Moon Unit

Rhoda Penmark

Dorothy, Bertha.

lyndad

Gretchen is not an old woman’s name. Replace it with “Bertha” my late aunt’s name. How would you like to be called Big Bertha, even though she was the tiniest person?

My third grade teacher was named “Opal”, and boy was she mean!
My 38 year old niece by marriage is named Rose.
My 50 year old attorney friend Is named Gladys. It is also a popular Latina name.
I like the Gretchen. It stands out among all the Madisons, Ashleys, yada, yada, yada!

Unlisted

As a preschool teacher and mommy in the now, I can tell you “Rose”, especially as a middle name or extension of a first name (Layla Rose, Abby Rose, Myla Rose…), is more popular than ever. VERY popular, actually!

Mildred Cady

I’m the only Mildred I know under 40 (named for a great aunt).
And my aunt (who’s passed on) was named Gladys.

josephine

We have a Rose, Rosi, Martha, and Josephine in our family.

Ellen Roberts

Flower names will always be in vogue, as will Elizabeth and all its derivatives, Betty, Beth Liza, Lisa, Eliza, Maggie, Meg, etc. Likewise with Eleanor – which are Ella, Ellen, Ellie, Helen, Nora, Lee and probably more. Plus any Biblical names or historical names, such as Ruth, Magdalene, Mary, Marianne, Naomi, Leah, etc.

Barbara Kelly

I agree with all the names on the list except Barbara & Rose

Vagabondage

The author of this article WOULD be named something like “Marissa.” Not saying I think there’s anything wrong with that name, it’s lovely, she just WOULD be named that or something like it–Taylor, Alyssa, Kelsee, Mady’sen…any of those and more would be unsurprising names for the author of an article like this. I wonder if she went by “Marissa E.” in elemenary school, because she went to class with “Marissa S.,” “Maurrissa W.,” and “Mahrr’ryssa &.,” and all of their parents (thought they) were thinking outside of the name box.

Ellen

Whoever wrote this, either did it to garner attention, or if written in sincerity, he or she seriously needs to get out more!

Sparky

Can’t I just see all the names on one page? It’s really not worth all the clocking and loading.

Morgan

Come to think of it, I know very few people under twenty with those names. Over thirty yes, under thirty very, very few.

I know one Heather, a waitress, and one Rose, a friend. The rest are all names of people over thirty among my circle of acquaintances.

So, most of the names on that list probably will fade in time. Who knows, maybe 50 years from now, they will make a comeback. I’ll try to wait around just for that. I’ll only be 115, think I’ll make it?

surfergirl70

This is such a silly list. I know a number of little girls named Gretchen, Martha, Ruth, Eleanor and Rose, and my own daughter is named Josephine. They’re probably right about Mildred, though…

Heather S

This article is not really a surprise coming from someone named Marissa.

Blanche Bumstead

Wow, talk about originality. 98% of this list could have been made 35 years ago.

Unlisted

How come “Shirley” didn’t make the list? BTW…”Sasha” is a man’s name.

April Ciolek

Heather?! I’m 50 and know plenty of Heathers my age. Heather Locklear? Now Agnes, sure… but Rose, and Ruth and many of the others are lovely. I think Ruth will make a comeback, especially with all of the big biblical based movies coming out.

You forgot Hortense. A coworker and I had a running gag about this name. It looks like you chose only names you could find pictures to go with. You couldn’t find someone named Hortense, evidence that it is already out of style.

I went to college with many girls named Ilene. It’s probably more popular in Jewish families.

As for Ruth and Martha, Biblical names will never go out of style.

Philippa

I know people with more than half these names. Hell I was nearly called Margaret and I’m currently 19. They’re not gone yet!

jasno

Mabel…?

ne2nj

There are so many more . . . Susan (mine), Nancy, Mary, Jane, Maryjane, Agnes, Margaret. But what’s in a name?

Oohrah

I know of TWO sets of Orthodox Christian parents who in the past year have used Ruth as a middle name for their baby girls. Also, if you look at the Hispanic communities you will see MOST of those names still being used in some variation! Not everyone wants to give their kids “trendy” names.

Hilda Gonswallo

So, did you decide this, author? In a few years, these names will be the unusual names that people pick.

V

I don’t agree with Beatrice and Josephine

minnie

Should have had Geraldine on the list, Rose is still used quite a bit as middle name.

Either this article is just way off or California is a trendsetter in the resurgence of these names:-). I live in the Bay Area and know a Ruth, Barbara, Beatrice, Gretchen, Eleanor and Opal, ALL young. For example, the Opal is in my son’s 2nd grade class and the Eleanor is in kindergarten! Moms nowadays are sick of the zillions of “new” Sophie’s & Jack’s and want names that are both traditional AND uncommon:-).

Guest

I know a 5 Gretchens, 2 Gertrudes (one goes by Trudie), and a number of others on this list. Names come and go easily. It all depends on your backgrounds.

jonadenz

Barbara–Barbie–really??

Shawna

600 comments and nobody thought to write out all of the names so we don’t have to keep clicking?

queenceleste

My oldest daughter is 20 and most of her friends growing up had the middle name Rose, so not sure it’s that uncommon.

Randy Clark

“Leading ladies” star in movies so in what sense is Gladys Knight a leading lady?

Mark in Colorado

really hate these ‘stories’ where they make you click 20 times to read less than one page of diatribe.

Obviously it’s so they can jam more adds down your throat, but it’s getting out of hand.

myhonestopinion

I’m still crushed by Bertha.

Laura Britt

You forgot Dorothy.

Marion Jones Mayfield

Dorothy is now very much in vogue!

Not Marlene

Marlene is a beautiful name!

Dogwalker876

Ruth is extremely popular among Christians and Jewish people. I know several little girls with this name. I think Gretchen is cute and not old lady at all. Besides, the names will all come back. My great-grandmother was named Hazel, which I thought was atrocious, but now it is SO hipster!

kts0591

Ok my mom’s name was IDA – I think that should have been on the list.

Christal Bailey

Thought I’d check out this article but only made it to number seven. This site is too slow to keep my interest. Too many ads? Yikes!

Gregory Marshall Smith

I swear, every time I see one of these lists, I think the author is living in a vacuum. Agatha, Marlene and Gretchen are common names among people of Scandinavian and Germanic descent. Barbara is still popular, while Marge is short for Margaret, a common name for Latinas, as is Gladys. Ruth is a Biblical name and won’t go away, while Rose might be down for a little while but will stay in the mix of flower names. Ilene is a variation of Eileen, so it won’t go away either.

Haley

I swear Lily Allen has a daughter named Ethel….and, not to mention, the following all rank in the UK’s top 1000 list, the starred names are within the top 200.

Perhaps you should do some more International research, because you really don’t seem to know what you’re talking about. Even Doris is starting to come back.

Michael Hobart

Stupid article, to put it simply.

Bama

I love old lady names, especially Southern old ladies. I know an Elvis, an Effie and Lemon (pronounced like lee-mun).

Butters

ALL of the OLD NAMES are coming back now. Names from my mother and grandmother’s generation, so names from my generation will be coming back eventually too. Lots of Helens, Evas, Avas, etc.. For guys old names are coming back too, like Robert, William, Keith, Kevin…

Gretchen is the German diminutive of Margaret. Anyone who reads Goethe’s Faust knows that! Marge is also a nick name for Margaret.
—
It has a large number of diminutive forms in many different languages, including Maggie, Madge, Mags, Maisie, Marge, Meg, Megan, Mog, Moggie, Rita, Daisy, Greta, Gretel, Gretchen, Magee, Marg, Margot, May, Molly, Peggy and Peg.

AC4AQ

I am greatly offended by the author’s ignorant derogation of my mother’s name and her attempt to smite future girls with vapid, arcane or contrived names. It would be a blessing of persons like “Marissa” (sic) would keep their own base stupidity as their own problem.

PitViper

In 30 years we’ll have scores of Madison’s, Mackenzie’s, Ace’s and Rocket. Names now are as disposable as toilet paper.

Violet

Some of these older names are making a comeback, like Julia Roberts named her child Hazel, and an English actress named hers Mabel. Also, Ruth and Esther and names like that are traditional Jewish names that will be around long after all the Ashleys and Madisons turn 90.

Violet

I guess Violet’s not currently all that popular. lol.

Laurel Kornfeld

Actually, Esther is derived from the ancient pagan goddess Ishtar or Astarte, the goddess of fertility sometimes associated with the planet Venus (note the similarity to the word Easter, which has the same origin).

This was not a very great article. Gretchen wasn’t that popular that I recall (and I’m 57), unless you lived in Germany or some other European country, so not even sure why that name made it onto this list. Barbara isn’t disappearing. I still see girls named Barbara. There were a few names on this list that I’d never heard of, so they disappeared YEARS before this article was ever a twinkle in this author’s eye. And I was surprised to not see Peggy on the list. No one, thankfully, is named that anymore.

31C

The “Never” in the title reveals the short-sightedness of the writer. Anyone with a brain knows that time and Hollywood can make an old name all the rage, though it is true that some of those names are clearly out of style – for now.

CallingBatman

What once was old will be new again. It must be great being a hipster, passing arbitrary judgement on what is and what isn’t cool. Personally, I think some of these names are nice, if only because they’re not run of the mill. Someday the top girl’s names of 2013 (Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Mia, etc.) will seem old hat too…about the time many of the names on this list become “cool” again. Never say never Marissa.

moonpie

I agree these names are mostly horrible. I do hear Barbara fairly commonly still – not the others.

Jen

My 13 year old daughter knows both a Ruth and a Gretchen her age. Some of these names are beautiful. Never is a long time…

h

What a stupid article. Everyone knows names go in and out of style–hence the little kids I know named Rose, Josephine and Sophie. And Biblical names like Martha and Ruth will never be obsolete.

Fromper

When I hear Myrtle, I think of Moaning Myrtle, not Myrtle Beach.

Another name that could be on this list is Wilma. When Hurricane Wilma hit in the never ending hurricane season of 2004, everyone wondered why they’d use such an odd name for a hurricane, instead of something more modern. It’s because they came up with the list of names back in the 60s and only retire names when a storm is really bad. Since no year had ever had enough storms to get to the end of the list, the Wilma name had stayed on the list, waiting to be used, for 4 decades.

mol

Huh? Eleanor, Beatrice, and Rose, among others, are getting MORE popular by the year. Opal, Martha, and Ruth are all making the rounds, too. Sounds like it’s the author who’s out of date.

Gertie

I know a “Sasha” in her forties! AND my daughter has a Josephine in her 3rd grade class…. I agree w/most though….

Hugh JaSoule

There are 4 or 5 women out there named Pearl, Agnes, and Hazel who are breathing a sigh of relief that they didn’t make the cut…

Jullie Yeatman

Eunice & Eustace should be on the list, although I really think Eustace is a boy’s name, met twins named that – poor kids.

Holly Grant

Nice racism (“names of old white ladies” — so if you’re white and old you’re bad?) and ageism (making fun of older women, most of whom had successful careers and lived in a different time). People can name their kids whatever they want to name them. Beatrice is a beautiful name.

Garth

Alice? Cora? Dierdre? There are better choices for this list…

usedtobeconservative

If you want to be a “style blazer,” shouldn’t you choose a name that is NOT popular with the conformist masses?

kbace

This article is totally wrong about BARBARA and PHYLLIS.

ilene

These names ROCK! Signed, Ilene

Pizza the Hutt

Illene, Barabra that a few other names on this list are not gojng anywhere

You just couldn’t write a list down on one page, but had to waste twenty pages? Did the author get paid by pages?

Raree Forlorn Sixx

Gretchen is a beautiful name. Maybe a name that’s not common but it’s cool to have a unique name (unless it is a direction or a fruit)

tenjen

What a ridiculous headline. You have no way of knowing what names will be popular to future generations.

Jenny M

Significant amounts of crack are obviously being smoked by the author and editing staff of this article.

Technical errors aside at minimum half and probably more like 75% of these names are very usable even today though several will wind up being used in a shortened form.

Example: Elenore (Shortened to Ele for common usage) would be a cute name even today.

While I would agree that some like Gertrude and Blanche might be near irrevocably damaged by pop culture associations that are not advantageous, the right kid with the right personality could bring any of these names back.

You want a name that is done…. try Jenny

it’s used to death, tired, over leveraged…. I Wish I had a cooler name (like Elenore!)… 😛

Diana

Love the name Sierra

Henry Plantagenet

You couldn’t just post the list? Every freakin name on the list requires three button clicks and a long wait.

LaineyD

That’s how these random websites get paid.

Nancy Smith

Just for the fact that you posted photos of young woman with these names makes the whole article ridiculous.

SeanP

Gee, I know a Gretchen, who is in her 30’s, a Beatrice who is in college, and an Ilene who has been walking for about a year now.

Zhyachts

Cora and Inez, my grandmothers.

Tina Costick-Brooks

Now the more common names are LaNike, Tawanda, Keesha, Apple and more made up names.

LaineyD

Yep, no one’s ever heard of Apple before, you racist jerk.

Aldo1887

15 seconds a page (to wait while all your vast number of popups and streaming vid load) x 20 pages = got to page 3 and quit + noted your domain for useless crap and “to avoid.” What was it DaVinci said? “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Elim Garak

How about a good old southern name, Lurleen . . . or my mothers name, Vivian.

Stephanie S

Gisele Bundchen named her baby Vivian. I think it’s way old school but then Angelina went with the French version, Vivienne.

kayhil87

What a silly list, based on nothing but the author’s opinion! If you’ll remember, names like Hannah and Abby were in this same category in the 1970s — frumpy old lady names — then came back with a vengeance. Although sometimes association with a famous or infamous person can kill a name, “Dear Abby” didn’t do that one in. I predict almost all of these will find a resurgence, with the possibly exceptions Marge and Mildred, which are just not attractive SOUNDING names, and maybe Myrtle, which is too associated with the character of “Moaning Myrtle” in the Harry Potter books, a nickname that would be most unpleasant for a young woman. I think even Gladys and Phyllis have a chance of coming back eventually — and biblical names like Martha and Ruth will always have a following. And Rose? Please…. everyone knows someone with that name — it is not “headed for extinction!”

Stephanie S

In Southern California it’s different because of Latinas. Gladys, Sylvia, Josefina or Josephine, are not uncommon Latina names especially among newer immigrants.

Eleanor’s mother

Eleanor is my daughters name — born in 2005 — since then i know of 3 other mothers who have used it in my small area

errol

You forgot Lafawnduh and Marissa or lol Errol

Naa’m

This is very subjective. Certain names on the list remain popular in other countries or within specific groups. Names often go through popularity cycles, just like fashions, and old or disused names become popular again after a while.

Darcy

With the movie Divergent popular now, you may have a few more Beatrice’s (or Tris) after the leading character.

millie

This author didn’t really do her research. Several of these names are becoming significantly more popular (Beatrice, Rose for example) according to the SSA database.

mcbishop

I know two baby Eleanors right now. I don’t think this is a fluke.

blagos

Any of these names could make a comeback. “Sophia” was almost dead, and now that is a very popular name (Including my daughter, whom we named after her great-grandmother because we thought the name was good, but unusual).

blagos

I suppose we could have named her after my aunt Gertrude. . . .

tenjen

Trudy, anyone?

Sherry

That’s because they are all really ugly except for Gretchen and Ilene. I actually like those.

old fashioned

I’ve known several older Jennifers who are now in their 60-70+ age group.

srjsac

JUst another way to get you to click and post adds x 20

Winona

the didn’t mention “Bertha”?????

virgo

Overlooked names are Maude and Hazel.

Gretchen

My roommate and I are 8 and 11. #OLDLADYNAMESFTW

Gradivus

Speaking of Ethel, my favorite obsolete (very obsolete) female name, used in the 19th century, is Etheldreda (Dreda for short).

3rdjerseyman

Who makes these lists? Is it the newest and least aware intern? Doesn’t matter the subject, they’re all glaringly ill informed. Barbara? Beatrice? Marlene? Somebody doesn’t get out much.

Heather

that first statement isn’t going to hold up for very long! I’m 48 and a Heather…lol!

molly

I had to stop reading at Ruth. this is the stupidest thing I have ever read.

Blackhawk

Linda, Patricia, Mary Anne, Mary Jane, Karen, Susan

HaveLearnedMyLesson

Hard to say who’s the bigger idiot: you, for writing this absolute crap, or me, for reading it. Well call it a tie for now. But I bet I have the better chance of not being an idiot in the future.

Skeeter

My grandmother’s name is Myrtle.

Uncle Ricky

Ye may be right about most of ’em, but Ruth & Martha are with us forever because they are strong biblical names, and I think Barbara will remain too.

People will always name their children after their ancestor so these names will not go extinct. I named my son after my great great grandfather.

Jack Dogg

These are all great names. Screw this stupid writer.

ken711

Names go in and out of fashion. Usually all it takes to bring back a name is one person with the name who becomes famous or fabulous. And quite often that name was chosen because it was rare so it made the person stand out. So the cycle repeats.

giantslor

My grandma’s name was Gertrude and she’s the last person I’ve met with that name.

Trayvon

having every single name on a separate web page is brutal

bosoxinny

Can’t stand this click-thru BS….just give me a list

strega2012

Hortense!

names never go out of style

I bet “Beatrice” makes a comeback with the new Divergent trilogy and the main character Tris…..

rebecca

is this based on some sort of study or just the 15 people the author knows? a LOT of these names are coming back.

hrtuvau

How about Dorothy? I was named after my maternal great-grandmother and grandmother, and my paternal grandmother’s best friend. You can imagine how many Toto and Oz jokes I’ve heard over the past 60 years…

I’mrotflmaooramI?

wow… just take a deep breath, step away from the computer and take a minute to think about what you’re all upset about…..then let me know because I really can’t figure it out was good for brief laugh though)….

Paul

I like some of these better than the crazy names they are using today…….Apple, Blue Ivy, Sunshine, etc.

Why is this not a list? It’s very annoying to have to click to see the next name and scroll down every time! I’m not even going to waste my time.

Shaniqua

All I can say is when I go to the DMV (or anywhere I require help), I look for an older lady named Barbara. They always get the job done.

joblo

where was Mabel?

Riches Not Yores

She’s in the kitchen with Dinah. I’m sure the OP will soon determine that’s the only place for those names too.

Kay Schmidt

They may be out of style now, but they will very likely be back in some years. To every thing there is a season.

disqus_HiD7swaH3v

Jean Arthur’s character in the 1939 movie MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON was not wild about her name Clarissa (spelling?)

Mary DeVaughn

I have nieces (21 & 24) named Marge & Rose, and a teenage granddaughter with the middle name of Opal. I have another granddaughter named Isabella. When she was born in 1995, it wasn’t even in the top 100 – now it’s #3. Guess we can blame a certain Sparkly Vampire Franchise for that! A friend’s granddaughter (6 months old) is named Cora, which was also an old-lady name when I was growing up.

guest

I love this entire thread…what is a rather harmless (and yes, rather useless) article has turned created a debate on everything from bigotry to just plain ugly name calling. Gotta love the internet…it can provide hours of mindless entertainment!

Guest

What kind of an article could one expect from someone with the dorky name of Marissa? That is a name with no history, no class and no future. Her name fits her perfectly.

Rob Roy

what about “Ida” and “Lucretia”? Ancestral names in my family.

newcountryman

How about Inez, Mamie, Rose?

Riches Not Yores

I love it! It’s not everyday you come across someone who has nothing better to offer readers than a list that pokes fun or denigrates others because of a name they were given. I think you left out “Marissa”. It now reminds me of a mild communicable venereal disease. It’s not going to kill me, but it sure smells awful. Anybody got soap? This story needs to be scrubbed.

In My opinion

Agnes, Adelaide are 2 they didnt mention

LynnTTTT

Not so fast. My mother was born in 1925 and named Isabel. He sister was named Amelia. We always thought those were the most old fashioned names ever…. and now we are awash with Isabel’s, Isabella, Bella etc. Who knew

LynnTTTT

I live in a senior community and we always laugh at how many us have names you never see anymore- Linda, Cindy, Barbara, Bonnie, Judy, Carol Ann, Jean, Susan, Mary, Marie, Peggy, Sally, etc.

Maggie O’Connor

I don’t know where they are getting their information but it isn’t accurate. I know a Gretchen, I know several Rose’s, Eleanor is on the upswing. Guess it depends on who you hang out with.

GuateNY

What about Edith, Camille, Fanya? Also, Gladys, Mildred, and Rosa (Rose) are popular names in the Hispanic community.

Mauve_Avenger

Camille’s not going anywhere. I know quite a few.

Debra Copley Reynolds

what a stupid article. I won’t waste my time with this site again.

emilykwells2188

I don’t think Beatrice is going anywhere quite yet. I know a couple of twenty-somethings names Beatrice; not to mention it’s the name of the main character is the Divergent series.

wisperch

Some of these may be gone forever, like perhaps Ethel and Blanche, (how about Bertha?), and some will be back (Ilene, or Eileen, Rose for sure), and one at least has made a strong comeback – Eleanor – I know at least 5, and some are using diminutives like Norrie, and Ella or Ellie. Other names not on that list are back in play – Hazel, Stella, Lana, Ida, Ava, Audrey. I even know a Hermoine – perhaps as the result of “Harry Potter”. Anyway, never say never!

Dawn9476

John Krasinski & Emily Blunt named their daughter Hazel.

Dewey00

My niece named her daughter Ava and she’s 1.

Wanda Ash Castleberry

Who came up with this idiotic idea to tell people what they should not name their children?
Names come and go. There will be a celebrity named Barbara or Ethyl or whatever and then people will start naming their children that.

lazypadawan

If anything, parents should look at these names instead of going with what’s popular. As a Gen-Xer, there were multiple Jennifers, Susans, and Dawns in many of my classes. Today’s little kids will be known as Isabella #1, Olivia #5, or Jayden #3. What’s really fallen out of favor are popular mid-century names like Linda, Jodie, Leslie, Lisa, Marcy, Karen, or Cheryl. Little boys aren’t named Carl, Dennis, Frank, Kevin, Randall, or Scott anymore either. Though any of those sound better than the trashy made up names people stick their kids with these days.

Dewey00

Wish my name would go out. Judith/Judy. Do you know how many times I have heard…

JK18_29

Gee, I’m just so sorry that the name Marissa is brimming with popularity. I’d rather grow old with names like Martha, Ruth, Rose, Beatrice or Barbara than Britney or even that standard Laken.
How did you get this job anyway Marissa? Did someone owe your daddy a favor? You can tell you have no merits as a writer, most of your list was ridiculous.

Abby Normal

I think Genevieve, Mathilda, and Priscilla are long gone.

Mauve_Avenger

I went to school with a Genevieve. I’m only 25, so I wouldn’t say the name was long gone.

Amy@

Glad you did so much research before the posting: The photo you have connected with the name Myrtle is Mia Farrow who played Daisy in “The Great Gatsby” MYRTLE was played by Karen Black. Might want to fact check before you post.

Derbyphile

AOL/Styleblazer: Gee whiz, since you said it, it must be so…..god forbid any parent-to-be would make a fashion faux-pas and name their child something un-currently popular. What complete rubbish this silly article is!

bocaloca

Many of these names are still popular in other languages/cultures/countries. This article is very egocentric.

Esco

Did I really need to reload the page 15 times just to read 15 words? These could have all been on a single page.

Sick Dr Joe

Momsense….since you’re too stupid to converse with, get back in the kitchen and make us all some coffee.

myrtle

Who wrote this article; someone named Shameekqua?

Gregory Eaton

Can you not read you illogical oaf. It says that the writer of this article is named Marissa Ellis

jcrouse22

Lol. That name is reserved for single black mothers to name their kids of unknown fathers.

Nue View

“Skylar” is a name that makes me want to projectile vomit…

Eddie Coyle

Roger That

Eddie Coyle

I would just say avoid the extremes…. Silly sounding or faddish names on one end, and supper popular names on the other that will ensure your child has 3 in every class…like Marissa for instance.

Eunice

Eunice. Nuff said.

Anony

Let’s also add Adelaide!

Da_Truth

In the Virgin Islands there is a Restaurant by the name of “Gertrude’s”

Todd Wessendorf

Hazel. Evelyn. Beatrice. Maude.

amber bandicoot

Tell me what it said. I lasted two names, and when I have to click “NEXT” & the damned screen re-adjusts, it’s like a 2×4 upside the head. Why these websites do this is beyond me.

whittx

Where is Beulah?

Wrenner

Definitely missed….Harriet!

LarryvilleLady

Beverly. Should have been in there instead of Rose.

MITCH

How about Hilda

Elizabeth_Erwin

This website is really, really terrible. So many popups and ads that it isn’t worth hanging around to click through all the names. First and last stop here by me, that is for sure!

gtwilight

We loved our Aunt Gertrude very much – which is why we called her Trudy.

Mrs Emma P

This list is bogus. Yes, some of the names are older and less common, but headed for extinction? Really? Talk about hyperbole. I know several Barbaras, a couple of Marthas and at least one Rose. Fifteen years ago one would have thought Emma and Olivia were on their way out and now they are among the top names for girls. Names cycle in and out of fashion. Some of these names may become fashionable again soon.

Josephine

I was laughing at my sister for having both her first and middle names on this list- Eleanor Ruth. And then I got to my name three slides later. .___. Assuming we live to be 80, these names will be around for at least another 60 years! 🙂

atc333

Many of these names will be back, regardless of the opinion of the writer making the list, just as we see fashions come back periodically. Some, as Heather, will always be around simply because of the beauty of the name.

K.C. Fahel

Names ebb and flow. When I was pregnant with my first child – a daughter – my mother suggested a name for her. “NO ONE names their daughter this any more; it’ll be unique!” The name: “Emma”. I informed my mother that Emma was the #1 name that particular year (2002). Instead, my husband and I named our daughter a name that has TRULY fallen off the radar, is now unique, and is from the Bible: Deborah. (Our second daughter’s name we also took from the Bible, but isn’t nearly as unpopular: Elizabeth.)

sdf

WHY I STHIS A GODDAMN SLIDE SHOW

Guin

No kidding. I made it through two before giving up. Ridiculous.

amberbluecat

Enid didn’t make the list?

Sushi

I just met someone named Ethel–and she’s wonderful!

Thoughts..

Florence?

Jillnts

How about Doris, Imogene, Florence, Mae, or Olive? Haven’t heard those on any young girls. Or Agnes, Arlene, Wilma, Naomi, Edith, Ernestine, Wanda, Lois, Lena, Layah, these are the names of the ladies in my town that were friends with my grandmother, Myrtle born 1898.

K.C. Fahel

Olive might make a comeback; that is the name of Drew Barrymore’s daughter.

Nah, some of these probably aren’t super accurate. Like, I know two girls at my school named Gretchen, for example. And Rose, I feel like that’s kind of a timeless name. A lot of these are beautiful names! And sound like names I’d probably give my future kids. 😛 Like Marlene, or Josephine.

Henrietta and Hortense and Harriet? OR Bertha? Glad those have made an exit.

Crazy Cat Lady

I know quite a few people using Josephine as a first or middle name on their daughters. Very inaccurate

Dwayne J. Stephenson

Yes, I’m going to totally click an arrow twenty times because more than one name at a time would overwhelm me.

kww355

Too bad you showed a photo of the character “Daisy” instead of “Myrtle”. Karen Black played Myrtle in the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby.

K.C. Fahel

“Karen”…now THAT is a name that has fallen out of favor! For the record, I am a Karen.

ChaCha

I’m betting that some of today’s names, oh, say like MARISSA will become extinct by the time the latest batch of kids grow up and start naming their babies. Maybe some of those names will be ones in this stupid article. I can remember when I thought we’d never hear the name Mabel again, but about ten years ago, parents started using that name again. What goes around comes around.

Anon.

I’m not going to click 21 times. Give us a single-page option, you guys! No inflated pageview stats for you!!!

Denise

what bout Esther, Mary, Abigail, Linda, Jane?

Shane

My daughters name is Ruth, named for the strong woman in the bible as well as my great-grandmothers name and my mothers middle name…she loves the name as do her family!

old fashioned

Most BARBARAS and BRENDAS you know of of today, who are at ages 12-19 are mostly HISPANICS/LATINAS.

Thor

Rose and Martha are Doctor Who, Also, I am part of a family who has a tradition to name their kids Greek Gods/Skandinavian Gods/Roman Gods. As such, my particular branch is Skandinavian, I am Thor, my Brothers are Loki and Odin. So there.

Kay

That’s funny because my Aunt Heather is in her 50’s…. I think names are more regional than anything

Suzanne Sutherland

Boy, these names deserving extinction are certainly one person’s opinion. I’m sure if I made a list it would be different but then I don’t consider myself a Goddess and authoritative figure on the pulse of popularity.

Eva

Names cycle and what is ugly today will be beautiful tomorrow. My name, Eva (pronounced Ava) is now a popular name in Canada. I was the only one I knew when growing up. Rose is coming back. There are plenty of Violets. In places like Sweden, the old names are back in force. If anything, the Madisons, Mackenzies and other newfangled names may be the ones that do not recycle.

Get Munny

Ah, the ignorance of this article. Names come in and out of fashion… A few years ago names like Abigail, Sophie and Olivia seemed old fashioned, but now they’re some of the top names for baby girls. Who cares, anyway? To me the best course of action is something that sounds nice, maybe has some family meaning, is not too obscure, but not in the top 10 either.

Cerrulla

The candidate name for most obvious extinction is Myra.

elvira

No, with Gaelic spellings so fashionable, it will just go back to being spelt Maire

stan

Remember they made a joke about Mildred being a bad name in the “Kiss the Girl” scene in “The Little Mermaid.”

Valeriewmc

Who is the “We” that picked those names, “Sunbeam Rocketship”?

J. in ON

This selection is so arbitrary. What a silly article. Forty years from now, some highly successful young woman named Eleanor Ruth will probably learn that in 2014 there was a name “Marissa,” and will say, “How quaint.”

J. in ON

P.S. Not to insult any Marissas out there who have better things to do than diss people’s names, of course! 🙂 People’s names are part of their identity. Styles change — so what?

Shagnasty1

I’m glad Marissa Ellis only has her opinion and not any authority.

LovelyLabrys

This is obviously a U.S site, and I am not surprised it is linked to the shallow and transient world of fashion because it lacks complete awareness of longevity rather than right-now.

I am surprised a fashion site isn’t aware of the common rule of names making a second/third generation return due to children being named after Great-grandparents and historical figures. Plus, the rule of popular Biblical characters.

Those and other ‘old fashioned’ names are very popular now in many places (obviously outside USA) including the UK right now.
Singer Lily ROSE Allen has just named her daughter ETHEL, and the name ROSE itself is very popular in the UK especially as a middle name.
Ruth has always been a popular Biblical name and so will always retain an element of popularity (only about 2% of people outside of U.S have even heard of Dr.Ruth) – and is now linked with certain actresses or tv characters.
Eleanor is also very popular in the UK – I believe it was in Top20 only a few years ago.
Martha (my friends new daughters name) is much liked and becoming popular again.
Heard of a couple of Agatha’s.
My Neice is named Peggie and friends have children called Harriet, Henry, Eleanor, Martha, Edie.

The name Marlena makes occasionally appearances but Marlene will never be popular in UK cos of link to very trashy tv character.

As for Heather(Scottish) – Most of the Heathers I know are in their 50’s, with only one in their mid-40’s. Don’t dismiss the geographical link will always keep names popular.

Felicity-Ann McInnes

Oi vai – what a load of hogwash indeed… Your name is chosen for you before you even are born… And each name is so blessed whether it is Martha, Ilene – or Agatha… Each are so beautiful…

Peter Ferguson

If you think all these names are over, you’re low-rent and have neither class nor style.

Krista

Bailey, Bailee, Baylee etc. is such a popular name for girls AND dogs.

robert d

A very silly selection which I gave up on when I arrived at the still popular, ‘Ruth’. Many perfectly ordinary names. Beatrice – royal connection will ensure survival, Barbara – another fairly common name, Phyllis – not so common but a popular middle name often reduced to the charming Phyl, Mildred – another name often given to children but again used in its shortened form of Millie.

Agatha

Short sighted post all names ebb in and out of fashion, Agatha is a beautiful name.

lodubimvloyaar

OK, first off, Phyllis is not a combination of ‘Phil’ and ‘Willis’, it’s a name from Greek mythology, given to baby girls for a very, very long time.

redbirds

i can give you the most popular names of 2013 in germany (both girls and boys):
girls: mia, emma, hannah, sophia, anna, lea, emilia, marie, lena, leonie.
boys: ben, luca, paul, jonas, finn, leon, louis, lukas, maximilian, felix.
a lot of them are old-fashioned and i have to admit, i like most of them. gretchen is only a nickname. my friend is called margreth and we never thought of calling her gretchen. we always think of goethes faust and gretchen stands for ‘love of nature’ (which is wonderful) and she was the one responsible for faust’s redemption. it’s an important part of our literature but i know more gretchens who are american than german. i don’t know why this happened. my mother’s name is rosa maria and i think it is a beautiful name. my name is angelika and i quite like it, although everyone is calling me gela.
i do agree, that marissa never did any research on this article. and i’m sure she got paid for that bs. there are so many names in this article who won’t go anywhere soon.

Gertrude

Add Marissa to this list. Ruth, Martha, Josephine, Gertrude, Gretchen, Ethel, and Marlene are better than Marissa. This is a dumb article.

barbaraebj

Names never go extinct; they are merely placed on the back burner until it is their turn again at the recycling alphabet soup name game. And, new names are invented all the time to join the old favorites.

BTW, Myrtle is not only the name of a beach, but it is also the name of a flowering plant, thus the cause of Myrtle Beach being named for the beauty of a flower. Inasmuch as it is a natural thing, I will guarantee that it will be recycled even if it takes a while to forget all the rhyming jokes surrounding that name… “Myrtle Girdle,” “Fertile Myrtle,” et. al. But, my first mother-in-law had one of those names that everyone liked to use in word games, “Isabel is a bell.” She told people about that fact all her life. Most friends called her Bonnie instead.

barbaraebj

Alas, you could be right about “Ethyl” though. Not too many people would still name their girls after a type of fuel for cars. Haven’t heard of too many girls called, “Gasoline,” “Oil,” “Black Gold,” or even construction materials, like “tar,” “blacktop,” “asphalt,” “concrete” or “wood” and “steel.” But, we have heard of people called, “Sunny,” so I suppose not all energy sources would be out of the question.

Keith Foot

I think Michelle is sometimes shortened to “Shell” !
(In UK I think we would spell it “Ethel”, but it’s rather old-fashioned, anyway). Didn’t Gwyneth Paltrow have a child called “Premium-unleaded” . . . ?

barbaraebj

Now, wait one minute! “Barbara?” That’s my name! I’ll have you know that my name is a perennial favorite, reused many times in every generation. So there! hehehe. I think you were trying to get comments with this list. You succeeded.

barbaraebj

And Mildreds are all Millies! It will be back. Trust me! People go through history books to find the best name for their little bundles of pleasure and pain. Some even purposely choose to “inflict” theirs with names meant to “build character!”

barbaraebj

Almost all of these names will remain for a long time to come regardless of wishful thinking of some… LOL! … with the possible exception of Ethyl (named for a gasoline) hehehe. Who knows, though. There are always those who might forget some of the original uses of names and use them because of who else had them before.

This is one of the more fun comment sections I have visited. People are having fun with this topic.

Chris Smith

Complete and utter twaddle*! (*look it up!)
Half of my girlfriends and half of my friends and relatives have at least a third of the given names mentioned. Even my daughter was named Barbara and that was my wife Eleanor’s choice! Was this penned by an American? They probably think the Yanks won the second world war too!

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Fran Fulwiler

Phyllis is an ancient Greek name meaning “foliage,” not a combination of Phil and Willis, which sounds like it was intended as a very stupid joke.

Articles like this show why I hate conformity, the Fashion Police, and immature attempts at being “cool”.

BTW, I had a mother named Rose and an aunt named Gladys. Oh, and an Aunt Edna. Shall we add that name to the list, too?

Martha

Some of these names are outdated, such as Mildred and Ethel. I would add Bertha. However, I like many names on the list for current generations: Rose for example. Ruth is Biblical, so it won’t disappear, plus is a decent name. Gretchen and Marlene are nice names as well, perhaps more popular in Germanic areas. I think names like Ilene and Josephine should have a resurgence, more names like that and less like Apple or Daisy.

G Sacramento

Names come in and out of fashion. The chosen time frame is too short. Many chinese girls Anglicizing their names do chose such names. But whats in a name?

Roy

I think Martha and Eleanor are both very nice names, and there is nothing wrong with Ilene, Rose or Josephine either.

Marion Wesoski

Marissa,

Get your facts straight before you publish your incorrect ‘facts’. The name Phyllis is NOT derived from Phil or Willis. It is from the Greek word for Foliage and has been in use since the 16 century. That’s the 1500’s .
Check out your Greek Mythology.

That you obviously haven’t researched name origins, I tend to believe that your entire article is just personal opinion and has nothing to do with reality.
Long live Ethyl, Agnes, Mildred, etc.!

Maggie

You have too much time on your hands, I have too to have bothered to read it

handsomerandyblackladbrad1953

My mother’s middle name was Josephine,but she permitted ABSOLUTELY NO ONE,EVEN MY FATHER to address her as “Jo,” or “Josie.”
(Her first name,”Gwendolyn” or “Gwen” as she was known to her family and friends,is atavistic enough!!!!!)

Kat

When the writer said “names we’ll never see again” I thought they had been made illegal. Because, how on earth else could you now?

Some names never do make a comeback, however many do – usually it does take 2-3 generations, as the names of our parents and grandparents are too familiar. After enough time, many names start sounding fresh again.

Nicole Kidman’s kid is Sunday Rose, Scarlett Johanssen’s baby is Rose… Rose has never gone away, and celebs naming their children Rose will make it explode.

There was a Myrtle is Harry Potter books – surely something a writer should now. And pointed out that Marge is usually a nickname, whereas Margaret or Marjorie (the typical original names) are still fairly popular. Beatrice is on the rise, Josephine, Eleanor and Ruth even more so (Dr Ruth who? How old is the writer??)

Not sure why such a random name as Ilene is here, as it has always been rare. Anyway its just a different spelling for Eileen, a pretty common name (and even now more popular than Ilene during it’s peak).

C’mon, just check the stats and facts, before writing any random articles!

Besides, there still are lots of people with these names (not me, though), so it’s pretty offensive to flat out say some name is hideous, instead of just saying it’s not popular anymore.

Lee Rowan

“We’ll never see again.” Oh, bullcrap. I’ll bet that 30 years ago nobody though we’d see “Emma” or “Emily” because they were Regency and Victorian names. NAMES go in and out of style just like other fashions. I admit I don’t like “Ethel” much myself but your decrees about some of those others… nonsense. Must be a slow news day.

K.C. Fahel

When I was pregnant with our first child, my mother suggested a name that “no one” used any more. I hated to tell her that her suggestion was actually the #1 girl name that year: Emma!

James

How can Phyllis be a merger of Phil and Willis? It’s at least four centuries old, and I don’t recall any Willises that far back from my history lessons.

James

And Beatrice isn’t going to vanish from Dante

James

There’s an Anglocentric, or Amerocentric bias showing very strongly here. I’m guessing that German-speaking mums and dads will still be very happy with Gretchen (and even Gertrude) for longer than the writers of this burble will be around.

The writer doesn’t understand that as the old ladies who had these names die off, they stop being grandma names and become charmingly nostalgic names. Watch for the names most often appearing in ‘Deaths’ columns … they’ll soon start appearing in the ‘Births’

Nancy Hall

Some of these names are still around. I work with kids so I see them pop up on attendance lists. The prettier ones will always be around. My name, Nancy, has fallen from favor.

Sashalu

I’m a 72-year-old Sasha.

Rosie

says a womam named marissa…

valerie

Lol in my high school, there were so many josephine’s and rose’s, we had to start calling them by their last names to identify each one. And eleanor is my fave name, im going to name my daughter it. Overall, i just found this article highly offensive, it seems like its only purpose is to insult peoples names. The author really hasn’t got a clue, there are nothing wrong with these names, and i actually know teenagers called martha, ethel and beatrice. But oh well, at least i know now never to check out articles from styleblazer again…

Claire Marsh

My kids go to school with a Martha, a Beatrice, an Eleanor and a Josephine.

Leslie Stanick

Some of these names are German, perhaps they are still alive and well in Germany, but not the US.

Emmeline

I know so many people named Eleanor and they love their name. I know a little girl named Agatha, I know a Martha, a Marge, several Barbaras, and I think Opal and Rose are beautiful names. This list is crap.

AmericanGirl07

I would rather have any of the names mentioned here than a pretentious, non descript, run of the mill name like Marissa. Who cares if they are out of date and old fashioned. Eleanor is a beautiful name and so is Opal. Your ignorance is showing in this article. Give me old fashioned any day. At least I wont be one of two dozen with the same name.

SueQ

Well, out here in the sticks, we still name our kids with most of these names. Granted they are for honoured & beloved grandmothers and aunts, but to slander the names is unwarranted. Opal is a lovely, multi-coloured, and precious gem stone, and I would have been honoured to bear the name. By the time you are 50 years old, you may hate your own name as being outmoded. Besides, if you walk into a mall, see a friend, and call out the name Rose, your friend will notice you immediately and respond. I dare you to try that with the name Brittany.

Tallulahdahling

Names come into fashion, names go out of fashion… and then come in again. I don’t believe it’s safe to predict that a name will disappear forever. And what will cause a name to be popular? All it takes is one famous, popular person or character in a book or movie or TV series, and the name “Ethel” or “Myrtle” or any other unused name could come roaring back.

jojar144

Talking about names that we will never hear again, what about ` Fanny`.

Name

Great! Here’s to a hundred years of Britneaey, Kaitlynn and Mikaylahhh.

feelinglow

My one year old granddaughter is Eleanor and I know lots of teenage Eleanors (admittedly they shorten it to Ellie…) and Ruth means kindness – a lovely name.

K.C. Fahel

My nephew & his wife named their twin daughters Eleanore & Lillian.

Um.

“The only Myrtle most people today probably think of Myrtle Beach as the name being used for a girl is an idea that long been buried under sand.” What the heck did I just read??

K.C. Fahel

That is like the name Mercedes. People have forgotten that the creator named the car after his daughter, and not the other way around.

Arel 1

All names come and go, and will as long as moms decide not to give their kids the fashionable names of the moment because everyone’s calling their kids those names.

TennisMan

How about “Marissa”? What’s the point of belittling people because of their names?

And who’d have guessed that Sophia or Emma or Emily would ever be popular– back in the 70s they were “old lady” names that no kid would have lived down.

Jessica Goldstein

I stopped reading at slide 9, Beatrice. I know two Beatrices under the age of 3. A quick look at the Social Security name rankings demonstrates that far from dying off, Beatrice is on an upswing. It did not crack the top 1000 names in 2005, but in 2013 it ranked 593. So still quite uncommon, but far from dead. Many of today’s stylish names were considered old and awful 40 years ago. Some of these might not come back, but others will. And returning to my first point, some are already on their way. Better research next time, please!

grassy knoll

They forgot Florence.

Amanda-Jane Campbell

Ruth, Martha, Eleanor, Rose, and Beatrice are all still quite common names in the UK. I have had more than one of each in preschool in the last few years

nicholas kenyon

So says MARISSA! for f””s sake!

Jannert

Well name fads come and go. There are a few that are popular just now that have all the earmarks of being transient favourites. Kylie? And the most popular girl’s name when I was born (no, it’s not my name) was Linda. While that is still in use, it’s much less popular than it was 60+ years ago. When I was young, somebody named Joshua or Jason would have been laughed at, as being really REALLY old. Now …hey these are some of the most popular names for a boy at the moment. I know young folks have a hard time getting their heads around this, but what is new now will be old later. Including them.

Hildegaard

Thank you for your crass, limited insights, “Marissa”. Hopefully you’ll have graduated from primary school by the time all the gorgeous little Marthas, Beatrices and Eleanors come through. I love at least half of these names, though I hate myself for bothering to click through the end!

TeamCropDusters

If you listen to someone from ‘styleblazer’ to pick a baby name you are moron.

LZ

Clearly the writer doesn’t know any hipsters. Old-fashioned names like Josephine, Rose, Opal, Gertrude, et al, are popular among hipster trend-setters. Wait for them to make a comeback.

There was a time in the 80s when names like Emily and Ava and Amanda seemed hopelessly old-fashioned. Once enough time has passed that their the name of a great-grandma instead of just a grandma, they come back.

Mystery name

Barbara: Might be true in English-speaking countries, but you still can find quite a lot of girls with this name in Poland. It might be old, but it’s still rather popular. I didn’t even know it exists outside of my country and maybe some other Slavic countries…

mica999

How silly. Names, just like clothing styles, go into and out of fashion. Who would have expected Olivia or Charlotte or Octavia to come back, but here they are. I think the author just hasn’t been around long very long or hasn’t been paying attention.

Curious Bear

What about Thelma.. Louise ?

Amanda Rin

My daughter has a gertrude (Gerty) in her class. She is 8. I wouldnt say its dead.

Gemini526

Gladys is considered old fashioned today, but isn’t it better to have a name that sets you apart from everyone else? Sharing it with one of the queens of Motown is kind of cool too!

Erin Elizabeth Brown-Bell

Are you kidding me? This list is so off trend it is laughable. Most of the trendiest names in the last few years are “little old lady names.” Ruby, Opal, Abigail, Agnes, Esther. How many Sophias and Bellas have you heard of in the last five years? Sophia was also on the Golden Girls, btw–This list is crap and so is this webpage, by the way…Couldn’t you just list all two names on one page?

Tigernan Quinn

It’s interesting how your diction has completely changed from your other posts where you were trying to prove you were the smartest dude in the room.

Erin Elizabeth Brown-Bell

First, I’m not a dude. And secondly, you seem to suggest that one’s diction can’t change from forum to forum? That fact that you are looking up my previous posts is weird and kind of pitiful.

Shannon Collier

Rose is still around, but it’s usually a middle name. They left out Lucille, while Lucy was popular for a short time a few years ago, it’s been forever since I’ve heard of anyone young being named Lucille. Boys names you never hear anymore for babies are Roger, Donald, Larry or Gary.